Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Joseph Kitchen and Detective Alford Blair were shot and killed while conducting a raid on a gambling house in the Bucknertown section of the city. During the raid, one of the gamblers shot and killed Detective Kitchen and then fled. While Detective Blair gave chase, the man turned and fired, fatally wounding Detective Blair. The suspect escaped to Virginia, where he shot and killed Lynchburg, Virginia, Detective Arthur Mann and wounded another officer on March 27, 1920. The suspect was eventually captured in Ohio, returned to Virginia, and executed for Detective Mann's murder. Detective Kitchen had served with the Greenville Police Department for 16 years and also served with the state constable office.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-E76AE32E- 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.
Detective Kitchen gave the Greenville Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kitchen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Joseph H. Kitchen 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Greenville Police Department, 11 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 91.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph H. Kitchen's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph H. Kitchen Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph H. Kitchen is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph H. Kitchen was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Greenville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
