Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Deputy Sheriff

Joseph Patterson

Monroe County Sheriff's Office — Tompkinsville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch May 21, 1897

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Joseph Patterson was shot and killed after arresting a man wanted as a witness during the current term of the circuit court.

After arresting him, the man produced a gun and fatally shot Deputy Patterson.

Deputy Patterson was survived by his brother, who served as the county sheriff.

Survivors

Deputy Patterson was survived by his brother, who served as the county sheriff.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-C83914D1
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Patterson served with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Tompkinsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Monroe County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Tompkinsville, Monroe County, KY

Platform Identity mcso.monroe.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 21, 1897

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Patterson 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Joseph Patterson Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Patterson is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Patterson was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Monroe County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.