Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Joe Kenneth Cosby

Panola County Sheriff's Department — Batesville, MS

Felonious

End of Watch September 30, 1988

Age 47

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Badge P-5

The Vigil Panel 133 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Joe Cosby was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner from the jail. He had picked the prisoner up from the Tunica County Jail and was transporting him to the Panola County Courthouse for a court appearance. The prisoner was riding in the front seat of the patrol car and started struggling with Deputy Cosby as they drove on U.S. 51 just north of Batesville. The prisoner was able to gain control of Deputy Cosby's weapon and shot him. A passerby located Deputy Cosby in his patrol car in a cottonfield 20 yards off of the highway. The man was convicted of murder and sentenced to three life sentences. Deputy Cosby had served with the Panola County Sheriff's Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-A77D4304
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.
Deputy Sheriff Cosby gave the Panola County Sheriff's Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Batesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cosby.

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

Agency

Department Panola County Sheriff's Department

Location Batesville, MS

Platform Identity pcso.panola.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1988

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 47

Badge Number P-5

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff Joe Kenneth Cosby 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Panola County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% 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. Joe Kenneth Cosby'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 Joe Kenneth Cosby Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Kenneth Cosby 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. Joe Kenneth Cosby was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518