In a tragic turn of events on a late summer day, Decatur Police Officer Frank A. Bass, a 38-year-old male, lost his life in the line of duty. The fatal encounter unfolded on Saturday, September 7, 1918, at the intersection of Bank Street and Pond Street in Decatur, Alabama.
While on patrol, Officer Bass was approached by a woman who reported being harassed by a man in the vicinity.
Responding to the complaint, he located the individual and attempted to place him under arrest for causing a disturbance. The situation quickly escalated when the man resisted, launching a sudden and violent attack on the officer with a razor and managing to slice his leg.
The assault caused Officer Bass to fall to the ground, at which point his assailant managed to disarm him, taking possession of his service weapon. While the officer was still down, the man tragically shot and killed him with his own handgun.
In the days that followed the deadly assault, law enforcement successfully apprehended the suspect. He was subsequently tried and convicted for the murder of Officer Frank A. Bass. The convicted killer was executed by hanging on October 30, 1918. Officer Bass was survived by his wife and two siblings.
