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Rufus Shelley Kendrick

Case from Bessemer, AL dated Jul 10, 1945

Victim Details

Rufus Shelley

Male

White / Caucasian

Bessemer

AL

1945-07-10

44

Rufus

Shelley Kendrick

Yes

07/02/2026

Case Description

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In the summer of 1945, a Bessemer, Alabama police officer's life was cut tragically short. Rufus Shelley Kendrick, a 44-year-old White male, had served on the Bessemer Police Department for 11 years. On July 10th, while off duty, Kendrick spotted a man who was wanted for the assault of a woman.

Kendrick, accompanied by his five-year-old son whom he left in the car, approached the suspect in an alley to serve the warrant. Moments later, the suspect opened fire, shooting Officer Kendrick mu ...
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Links to Additional Sources (3)

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  • Reflections for Police Officer Rufus Shelley Kendrick, Bessemer ...
  • Bessemer Police Department, Alabama, Fallen Officers
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    Forum Posts (3)

    It's truly gut-wrenching to think about Officer Rufus Shelley Kendrick's untimely death and the prof... ...Read More
    06/01/2024
    Wow, this story is absolutely devastating. I can’t imagine the strength it took for Officer Kendri... ...Read More
    03/30/2024
    I was recently reading about Officer Rufus Shelley Kendrick's case, and something that really struck... ...Read More
    06/28/2023
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