Roll of Honor
Incident
Private Joe Shaw was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to arrest smugglers at Tomates Bend of the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, Texas. A shootout erupted and Private Shaw was struck in the chest and back. The smugglers were all apprehended.
On October 10, 1918, the leader of the smugglers fatally shot Sergeant Delbert Timberlake, also of the Texas Rangers, at the scene of an ambush setup by lawmen in an attempt to arrest the man.
Private Shaw had been with the agency for only two months and was assigned to Company G.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-67A4890B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Private Shaw served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Shaw.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private Joe R. Shaw 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 Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe R. Shaw's cause is highlighted.
How Joe R. Shaw Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe R. Shaw is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe R. Shaw was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
