Joseph E. "Joe" Arnold

Murfreesboro Police Department — Murfreesboro, TN

Felonious

End of Watch March 15, 1911

Age 59

The Vigil Panel 25 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

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: 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.
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

Department Murfreesboro Police Department

Location Murfreesboro, TN

Platform Identity mpd.rutherford.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1911

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Charged with murder

Chief of Police Joseph E. "Joe" Arnold 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 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 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Murfreesboro Police Department

of 6 officers

33.3% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious