Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

D. Joseph Nichols

Orange County Sheriff's Office — Hillsborough, NC

Felonious

End of Watch September 9, 1904

Age 44

The Vigil Panel 19 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Joe Nichols was shot and killed near Hillsborough by a man he attempted to serve a warrant on for whipping his daughter-in-law.

The suspect, who had been arrested by Deputy Nichols before, declared that he would kill the deputy if he ever tried to arrest him again.

The man was captured by a posse a short time later. The 60-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison on August 13th, 1905.

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Nichols served with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hillsborough community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Nichols.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Orange County Sheriff's Office

Location Hillsborough, NC

Platform Identity ocso.orange.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 9, 1904

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 12 years

Deputy Sheriff D. Joseph Nichols is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Orange County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. D. Joseph Nichols's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How D. Joseph Nichols Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 12 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. D. Joseph Nichols is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. D. Joseph Nichols was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518