Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Joseph Whitehead was shot and killed while he and other deputies were serving a no-nock search warrant at a home on Atherton Avenue.
Deputy Whitehead and several other officers were executing a search warrant they had obtained during a narcotics investigation. When they entered the location, two suspects inside opened fire on them. Deputy Whitehead was struck once in the chest and once in the face. The round that struck Deputy Whitehead in the chest was absorbed by his bullet-resistant vest.
Deputy Whitehead was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wound approximately 30 minutes later.
Five people in the home were arrested and charged with murder in connection with Deputy Whitehead's death. The suspect who shot Deputy Whitehead faces the death penalty. On June 15, 2012, one of the other suspects was convicted of Deputy Whitehead's murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in 30 years. In 2018 three, 19, 21, and 28, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The fifth suspect was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, sent to prison, and paroled on September 24, 2010.
Deputy Whitehead was a United States Air Force veteran and had served in law enforcement for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, his mother, and his sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-8CC61B0A- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Whitehead gave the Bibb County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Macon community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr. 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 Bibb County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr. is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Bibb County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
