Patrolman Clarence Oden Martin, a 44-year-old African-American officer with the Alexander City Police Department and a Korean War veteran, was ambushed and killed on the morning of January 6, 1976. Martin had been with the department a little over two years. Earlier he issued a traffic ticket to a man for driving without a license; that man waited and, at about 7:00 a.m., opened fire with a .22 caliber rifle while Martin sat in his patrol car, fatally wounding him.

The shooter was identified and arrested. He was tried and convicted of second-degree murder and received a 10-year prison sentence. The killing ended the life of a veteran officer who had been carrying out routine duties when he was targeted over a minor traffic infraction.

Does anyone have memories of Alexander City in 1976 or information about Patrolman Martin’s life and service to share?