Slain Alabama officer has ties to SETX

Ofc. Philip Davis was shot and killed last week during a traffic stop. His uncle is the pastor of Ridgewood Church of Christ in Beaumont.

Relatives of Davis say his death is the most recent in a series of senseless killings of officers across the country.

"All of us, seeing something like this, ask 'why, why, why?' and there's no answer to that," says Reverend John Davis.

Reverend John Davis and the rest of his family are searching for answers in the murder of Phillip Davis, a police officer from Pelham, Alabama, South of Birmingham.  He was Reverend Davis' nephew.

"Any time he walks up to any car, anywhere, there's no way of knowing what kind of response that will produce and this is case in fact," says Davis.

Officer Davis was shot and killed last week when he stopped a driver on Interstate 65 in Pelham. Reverend Davis says his nephew asked the man for his license and insurance.

"Then he produced a gun and there were witnesses on the road that saw it," says Davis.

Ofc. Davis was buried Tuesday in Alabama.

His uncle believes there's been a gradual change in society from respect for law enforcement officers, to a belief they're working against us.

"These men and women are the most dedicated people in our society, but unlike the rest of us, they put their lives on the line all the time.  It's a strange phenomenon," says Davis.

A phenomenon Davis says, cost his nephew his life.

"It's just beyond anything that we can in anyway justify or rationalize or say here's the cause and effect relationship," says Davis.

It's something Rev. Davis believes society must look at long and hard.

Philip Davis is the first police officer killed in the line of duty in the 45 year history of Pelham, Alabama.