Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Whitworth was shot and killed during a barricade situation after a suspect fled from another deputy who tried to stop him for speeding. The 25-year-old suspect fled to his nearby trailer, where he barricaded himself. He opened fire on several deputies when a tear gas bomb was fired through a window. After a three-hour gun battle, Deputy Whitworth was hit in the head with a load of buckshot as he fired another tear gas bomb into the trailer. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. At his trial, the suspect said he was in bed asleep when a tear gas bomb came through his window. He said he opened fire because he thought the deputies were criminals trying to kill him and his family. He was acquitted. Deputy Whitworth had been with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-9F015A9E- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Whitworth gave the Escambia County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Pensacola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Whitworth.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Elmer Whitworth 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 Escambia County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Elmer Whitworth's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Elmer Whitworth Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Elmer Whitworth is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Elmer Whitworth was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Escambia County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
