Joe McDaniel
Agency patch
Marshal

Joe McDaniel

Williams Police Department — Williams, AZ
Felonious
End of Watch April 15, 1947
Age 57
The Vigil Panel 83 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal McDaniel was shot and killed by a man he was attempting to arrest. Marshal McDaniel was called to arrest a man who was causing a disturbance in a local cafe. Two Williams police officers had tried to arrest him, but he'd pulled a pistol. They were concerned for the safety of a crowd of bus passengers so they retreated and called McDaniel. McDaniel confronted the suspect and a wrestling match ensued with McDaniel on top when the suspect was able to draw his weapon and shoot McDaniel four times. McDaniel died shortly after arriving at the hospital. The suspect was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he was paroled after only seven years.

Survivors

Marshal McDaniel was survived by his wife Nellie.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-89551AF1
Stewardship
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Marshal McDaniel served with the Williams Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Williams community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal McDaniel.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Williams, Coconino County, AZ
Platform Identity wpd.coconino.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1947
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Marshal Joe McDaniel 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 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 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Williams Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Williams Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
AZ — Statewide
204
of 330 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe McDaniel's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Joe McDaniel Compares

Age at Death
57
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe McDaniel is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe McDaniel was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Williams Police Department are honored on badge.nw.