Joseph Preston Martin
Agency patch
Police Officer

Joseph Preston Martin

Felonious
End of Watch April 27, 1990
Age 28
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 2899
The Vigil Panel 135 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Joseph Martin was shot and killed after he stopped a suspicious vehicle at the intersection of NE 13th Avenue and NE 151st Street in North Miami Beach.

The vehicle was a stolen vehicle and was occupied by three men who had been on a crime spree of burglaries and robberies. As Officer Martin approached the vehicle the passenger exited and opened fire, striking him in the throat. Although mortally wounded, Officer Martin was able to return fire and wounded the suspect in the shoulder.

All three suspects fled but were eventually apprehended. The accomplices were sentenced to 30 years and life in prison, respectively. The shooter was sentenced to death.

Survivors

Officer Martin is survived by his wife, two children, father, and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-1E0149BF
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.
Police Officer Martin gave the Metro-Dade Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Martin.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Miami, FL
Platform Identity metrpd.miamidade.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1990
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 2899
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber
Offender Sentenced to death

Police Officer Joseph Preston Martin 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metro-Dade Police Department, 14 of 25 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.

Metro-Dade Police Department
14
of 25 officers
56% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Preston Martin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Joseph Preston Martin Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to death

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Preston Martin is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Preston Martin was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location