In the winter of 1959, the community of Saraland, Alabama, was shaken by the sudden and violent death of one of its own. Patrolman Norman Lee Read, a male officer with the Saraland Police Department, lost his life in the line of duty on December 13th. His death stemmed from a chaotic attempt by a prisoner to escape from the local police department.
The events unfolded when a prisoner managed to gain control of a shotgun within the police station.
As Patrolman Read was responding to assist his fellow officers in subduing the inmate, he was tragically shot and killed by the armed prisoner. The tense and dangerous situation reached a swift conclusion when a dispatcher at the station shot and killed the suspect moments after Patrolman Read was fatally wounded.
The aftermath of the incident left a profound impact on those who knew and worked with Patrolman Read. He was survived by his wife and two children, who were left to grapple with the sudden loss of a husband and father. The man responsible for Patrolman Read's death was killed at the scene, and therefore, there were no subsequent arrests or trials in connection with this case. The life of Patrolman Norman Lee Read was cut short in a sudden act of violence while he was protecting his community.
