In the pre-dawn hours of a Thursday in Sylacauga, Alabama, a routine patrol took a fatal turn, ending the life of a young police officer. On September 18, 1952, Officer Rex A. Sanford, a 26-year-old male, was shot and killed while on duty. He had served on the Sylacauga Police Department for only a year.
The incident unfolded at approximately 4:00 a.m. in the parking lot of a local drive-in. Officer Sanford and his partner observed a man in a vehicle discard a pistol. As the two officers approached to question the occupants of the car, one of the men opened fire, striking Sanford. His partner returned fire, wounding the gunman as he fled the scene. A manhunt quickly ensued, leading to the suspect's apprehension two hours later in Montgomery.
The man who fired the fatal shots was tried and, on January 16, 1953, convicted of first-degree murder. He received a life sentence for the killing of Officer Sanford. However, his time in prison was not to be for the remainder of his life; he was granted parole and released on August 18, 1963. The other individual in the car with the gunman at the time of the shooting was not charged in connection with the officer's death. Officer Sanford was survived by his wife and son.
