By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
MONTGOMERY — Kay Ivey has directed that flags be flown at half-staff across Alabama on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in honor of fallen Thomasville Police Officer Dallas Hinton, who was killed in the line of duty on April 22. He was 25.
The governor’s order calls for flags to be lowered from sunrise to sunset at the State Capitol Complex in Montgomery and at public buildings statewide, coinciding with the date of Hinton’s memorial services.
“I hereby authorize flags to be flown at half staff … to honor fallen officer Dallas Hinton of the Thomasville Police Department who gave his life in the line of duty,” Ivey said in the directive.
Hinton, a native of Tuscaloosa and a resident of Thomasville, served his country in the United States Marine Corps, including deployments in Japan and Afghanistan, before joining the Thomasville Police Department. He had served with the department for two years.
“A proud U.S. Marine, Officer Hinton brought to his role as a protector of the public the same courage and commitment he forged in service of our country,” Ivey said. “Sadly, he lost his life while on duty.”
Additional details surrounding Hinton’s death have underscored the profound loss felt across the state. According to accounts shared in a memorial tribute, Hinton had just completed his shift early the morning of April 22 when his vehicle collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer along Highway 43. The crash resulted in a fire, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Even more heartbreaking, Hinton had recently proposed to the love of his life, but they never got the chance to get married before his life ended abruptly.
In the days that followed, a solemn law enforcement procession escorted Hinton from Mobile County back to Thomasville. Agencies from across the region joined along the route, forming a continuous show of unity and respect. Residents gathered quietly along the highway, many standing in silence as the procession passed.
Those who knew Hinton described him as deeply committed to a life of service, first as a Marine and then as a police officer. He was recently engaged, and friends and colleagues have remembered him as someone who carried both dedication and compassion into his work.
In her order, Ivey also expressed condolences to those closest to Hinton, noting the impact of his loss across the state.
“I join with all Alabamians in sending our heartfelt prayers to Officer Hinton’s family, friends, and colleagues at the Thomasville Police Department,” she said. “While Officer Hinton may have been taken very early, his passion and devotion to serve will never be forgotten.”
Communities across Alabama continue to mourn, while honoring a young officer whose service and sacrifice have left a lasting impression both locally and statewide.
8
