Joseph Obie Talley
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Joseph Obie Talley

Felonious
End of Watch August 24, 1929
Age 34
Tour of Duty 5 mo
The Vigil Panel 58 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Talley succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two years earlier when he was shot after responding to a disturbance at a local bar.

Deputy Talley instructed the subject causing the disturbance to leave. As the man did so he pulled out a handgun and shot Deputy Talley in the back. The round severed Deputy Talley's spinal cord, causing him to become paralyzed. He died as a result of his injuries two years later.

Deputy Talley had served with the Newton County Sheriff's Department for only five months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-0BFF3D95
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Talley served with the Newton County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Newton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Talley.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Newton, Newton County, TX
Platform Identity ncso.newton.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 24, 1929
Tour of Duty 5 mo
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Obie Talley 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Newton County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Newton County Sheriff's Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Joseph Obie Talley Compares

Age at Death
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Obie Talley is highlighted in Aug.

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 Obie Talley was killed by handgun.

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

1 officer from Newton County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.