In the midst of the heated Gulf Coast Longshoreman's strike in Mobile, Alabama, a dedicated police officer lost his life. On Wednesday, October 30, 1935, Officer Edward DeFord was dutifully escorting a group of non-union workers across the tense picket lines near the Port of Mobile when violence erupted. A suspect opened fire, and Officer DeFord was struck by the gunfire.
Having served with the Mobile Police Department for eight years, Officer DeFord was a seasoned veteran of the force.
Despite the immediate danger, he and his partner were committed to maintaining order and ensuring the safety of those they were assigned to protect. The sudden outbreak of gunfire turned a tense situation into a tragic one in an instant.
Officer DeFord succumbed to his wounds the following day, on Thursday, October 31, 1935. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, fellow officers on the scene engaged the suspect. The individual responsible for Officer DeFord's death was shot and killed by police at the location of the incident.
