Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Joseph Davidson was shot and killed while guarding two robbery suspects who had just been arrested. The two complained of being cold and asked if they could wait in their automobile, and the request was granted.
Several minutes later they requested to get back out of their car, and as they did, one of the men shot Constable Davidson several times.
One suspect, 58, was apprehended a few days later. The other suspect, 37, was apprehended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 25, 1935. Both were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. The 37-old died in prison in 1948.
Constable Davidson had served in law enforcement for 2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-4614055B- 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.
Constable Davidson gave the Mercer County Constable's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Princeton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Davidson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Joseph H. Davidson 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph H. Davidson's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph H. Davidson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph H. Davidson is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph H. Davidson was killed by handgun.