Roll of Honor
Incident
Detention Officer Gene Lee succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when he was assaulted by an inmate Lower Buckeye Jail.
The inmate attacked Officer Lee without provocation, grabbing him by the neck and sweeping his legs out from below him. Officer Lee's suffered a severe head injury when his head struck the concrete floor.
Other officers and jail medical staff provided aid until he was transported to Banner University Medical Center. He died the following day without regaining consciousness.
Officer Lee had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-D46C594F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Detention Officer Lee gave the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detention Officer Lee.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detention Officer Gene Wade Lee 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, 11 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gene Wade Lee's cause is highlighted.
How Gene Wade Lee Compares
Offender Outcome
In custody
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gene Wade Lee is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gene Wade Lee was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Maricopa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
