Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Buzzell was shot and killed while attempting to remove a family that was trespassing on a ranch near the San Joaquin River. The father of the family fired at Deputy Buzzell, striking him in the head and chest, killing him. The suspect was wounded in return fire. He was arrested three weeks later in Merced. He was tried and acquitted. Deputy Buzzell was survived by his wife and two children. He is buried in Stockton.
Survivors
Deputy Buzzell was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-2EEBA290- 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
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Buzzell served with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the French Camp community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Buzzell 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Buzzell's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Buzzell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Buzzell is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Buzzell was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
