Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) sponsored a Senate resolution this week to honor the eight police officers in Alabama who were killed in the line of duty in 2019, which was the deadliest year for Alabama’s officers of the law in recent memory.
Shelby’s resolution comes as the nation observes National Police Week, a yearly week-long celebration of America’s police officers that has been observed since the John F. Kennedy administration.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to the eight brave police officers from Alabama and many more across the nation who made the ultimate sacrifice last year to protect us,” Shelby said in a statement.
The spate of killings prompted Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, State Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) and State Representative Connie Rowe (R-Jasper) to bring forward legislation that would speed up the appeals process for convicted cop killers.
The eight officers, as listed in Shelby’s resolution, are as follows:
Police Officer William Ray Buechner, Jr. of Auburn, Alabama – Officer Buechner served with the Auburn Police Division for 13 years.
Sergeant WyTasha Lamar Carter of Birmingham, Alabama – Sergeant Carter was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He served with the Birmingham Police Department for eight years and had previously served with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Leeds Police Department and Fairfield Police Department for an additional nine years.
Agent Billy Fred Clardy, III of Huntsville, Alabama – Agent Clardy was a U.S. Army veteran. He served with the Huntsville Police Department for 14 years and had previously served with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, the Ardmore Police Department and the Fayetteville, Tennessee, Police Department.
Investigator Dornell Cousette of Tuscaloosa, Alabama – Investigator Cousette was a U.S. Army veteran. He served with the Tuscaloosa Police Department for 13 years.
Deputy Sheriff Julius Jamal “Jay” Dailey of Monroe County, Alabama – Deputy Dailey served with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for two years. He had previously served with the Alabama Department of Corrections, Thomasville Police Department and Pine Hill Police Department for eight years.
Deputy Sheriff Levy Pettway of Birmingham, Alabama – Deputy Pettway served with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years and was assigned as the school resource officer at The Calhoun School.
Police Officer Sean Paul Tuder of Mobile, Alabama – Officer Tuder was a member of the Alabama National Guard and served with the Mobile Police Department for three years.
Sheriff John Arthur “Big John” Williams, Sr. of Hayneville, Alabama – Sheriff Williams was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served in his community’s law enforcement for more than 40 years.
“These men and women put our safety above their own, and for that we stand forever grateful. My deepest condolences remain with the families and loved ones of these fallen heroes,” concluded Shelby.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
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