Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Joe Wall was shot and killed by a drunk male he had just arrested. Chief Wall was called to Watson's Furniture Store to make a routine arrest. A 45-year-old man was intoxicated and was making a disturbance. The chief had taken him into custody and placed him in the back seat of his patrol car. After he got in to drive, the man reached over the seat, got the chief's gun, and shot him once in the head. The mayor, who happened to be near the altercation, took the prisoner into custody. Chief Wall had killed the man's brother the year before during an arrest. A coroner's jury had ruled the shooting was justified. Four days before this incident, the Chesnee town council had voted to install a barrier between the front and back seat of the patrol car. The suspect was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Chief Wall had served on the Chesnee police force for almost 20 years. He was due to retire July 1.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-9A5D5F8D- 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.
Chief of Police Wall gave the Chesnee Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chesnee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Wall.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Joe Cletus Wall 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Chesnee Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Cletus Wall's cause is highlighted.
How Joe Cletus Wall Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Cletus Wall is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe Cletus Wall was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Chesnee Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
