Roll of Honor
Incident
Twenty year old Jim Cooke’s mother had requested that Deputy Binnion speak to her son about returning home. Deputy Binnion went to the house in Colorado City where Cooke was known to be, and as he stepped in the door the young man fired, shooting Binnion through the bowels. Cooke then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. Binnion fell outside, fired one shot into the room, not knowing that Cooke was already dead. Deputy Binnion was carried home and died on April 14.
Binnion was buried in the Colorado City Cemetery.
Twenty year old Jim Cooke’s mother had requested that Deputy Binnion speak to her son about returning home. Deputy Binnion went to the house in Colorado City where Cooke was known to be, and as he stepped in the door the young man fired, shooting Binnion through the bowels. Cooke then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. Binnion fell outside, fired one shot into the room, not knowing that Cooke was already dead. Deputy Binnion was carried home and died on April 14.
Deputy Binnion left a wife and two sons, one son three years old and the other son 11 months old.
Harry T. Bryan Grand nephew September 30th, 2023
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Deputy Sheriff Binnion served with the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Colorado City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joe Binnion is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Mitchell County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Binnion's cause is highlighted.
How Joe Binnion Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Binnion is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe Binnion was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Mitchell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
