Butler County Sheriff's Office, Alabama
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 3, 1939
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Fall
Date of Incident: May 3, 1939
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Chief Deputy John Sanders succumbed to injuries sustained several days earlier when he jumped from a moving train while pursuing a fugitive in Georgiana, Alabama. The fugitive had been in Chief Deputy Sanders' custody and was attempting to escape from the train.
Upon landing, Chief Deputy Sanders fell down an embankment, causing a tear in his aortic valve. He died at his home later in the day.
Chief Deputy Sanders was a WWI veteran and had served with the Butler County Sheriff's Department for six years. He was survived by his wife, six children, father, and six siblings.