Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Joseph Henderson and Patrolman Mercer Denby were shot and killed by a drunken soldier Patrolman Denby had arrested. The suspect was able to gain control of Patrolman Denby's weapon and shot him. The suspect then fled into the streets and started to fire the gun randomly. Chief Henderson was shot when he rushed to the scene to assist Patrolman Denby. Patrolman Denby succumbed to his wounds 6 weeks later. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair at Reidsville State Prison on May 28, 1943. Chief Henderson had served with the agency for 14 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-FB9AC13F- 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 Henderson gave the Tifton Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tifton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Henderson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Joseph Stephen Henderson 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tifton Police Department, 2 of 3 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 Stephen Henderson's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Stephen Henderson Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1943
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Stephen Henderson is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Stephen Henderson was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Tifton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
