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Joseph Tim Whitehead Jr.
Incident
Deputy Joseph Whitehead was shot and killed while he and other deputies were serving a no-nock search warrant at a home on Atherton Avenue.
Deputy Whitehead and several other officers were executing a search warrant they had obtained during a narcotics investigation. When they entered the location, two suspects inside opened fire on them. Deputy Whitehead was struck once in the chest and once in the face. The round that struck Deputy Whitehead in the chest was absorbed by his bullet-resistant vest.
Deputy Whitehead was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wound approximately 30 minutes later.
Five people in the home were arrested and charged with murder in connection with Deputy Whitehead's death. The suspect who shot Deputy Whitehead faces the death penalty. On June 15, 2012, one of the other suspects was convicted of Deputy Whitehead's murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in 30 years. In 2018 three, 19, 21, and 28, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The fifth suspect was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, sent to prison, and paroled on September 24, 2010.
Deputy Whitehead was a United States Air Force veteran and had served in law enforcement for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, his mother, and his sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Joseph is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Whitehead gave the Bibb County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Macon community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph Tim Whitehead Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bibb County Sheriff's Office has lost 12 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Joseph is one of 549 officers killed feloniously in GA, 60.7% of the 905 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2006, 1 officer at Bibb County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2006, 3 officers in GA were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 149 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 16.
In 2006, 72 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 98th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2006, 77 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Joseph was 36. Of the 6 killed feloniously at Bibb County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 30.8 and 38.3; the middle age was 34.5. Joseph had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Joseph was 36. Of the 481 killed feloniously in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 36. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 36. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 16.7% of these deaths at Bibb County Sheriff's Office; May holds the most, 33.3%. Thursdays: 33.3%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 10.6%. Thursdays: 12%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 12 deaths at Bibb County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.7% of all 905 deaths in GA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 15.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Bibb County Sheriff's Office has 12 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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Benjamin F. Wilder
May 26, 1892
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James Walter Johnson Jun 16, 1908
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Franklin Leland Williams Aug 11, 1918
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Walter C. Byrd Jul 29, 1922
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Harry Green May 15, 1925
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Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr.
Mar 23, 2006
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Chad McDonald
Dec 21, 2007
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Michael Sean Thomas
May 25, 2008
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Anthony Joseph Freeman
May 5, 2016
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Kenterrous Dewayne Taylor
Mar 18, 2020
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Christopher Wilson Knight
Apr 6, 2021
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William Warren Gay
Oct 14, 2021
Military Service
Joseph Tim Whitehead Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joseph Tim Whitehead Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Bibb County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
