Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Joe Arnold was shot and killed by a Rutherford County deputy sheriff over a dispute about who had arrested two prisoners.
The two had been arrested for possession of illegal liquor by two deputies. Chief Arnold also charged one of the men with bootlegging and took him to the county jail. The deputy started arguing with Chief Arnold that the prisoners were county prisoners and not city prisoners. The argument continued as they walked from the jail, at which point the deputy shot Chief Arnold. Despite the wound, the chief was able to return fire and wounded the deputy. The deputy was arrested and charged with murder.
Chief Arnold was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Chief Arnold was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-258033E3- 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 Arnold served with the Murfreesboro Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Murfreesboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Arnold.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Joseph E. Arnold 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Murfreesboro Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph E. Arnold's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph E. Arnold Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph E. Arnold is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph E. Arnold was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Murfreesboro Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
