Joseph J. Brock
Agency patch
Special Agent

Joseph J. Brock

Felonious
End of Watch July 26, 1952
Age 44
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 88 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Joseph Brock was shot and killed in New York City, New York, by a fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Agents had information that the suspect would be at a hotel that evening. They observed the man in the lobby on the phone and then enter an elevator to the ninth floor. The agents decided to wait for him to return to the lobby in order to make an arrest. Agent Brock took a position near a stairwell. Instead of taking the elevator back down, the suspect took the stairs that Agent Brock was positioned in. He shot Agent Brock twice in the chest and then took his gun. He entered the lobby and engaged the other agents in a shootout before being wounded. The suspect was convicted of Agent Brock's murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison, in New York, on August 12, 1954. Agent Brock had served with the United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation for 11 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-7193966B
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.
Special Agent Brock gave the United States Department of Justice 11 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Brock.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 26, 1952
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Executed in 1954

Special Agent Joseph J. Brock 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, 37 of 89 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.6% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
37
of 89 officers
41.6% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% 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 J. Brock'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 J. Brock Compares

Age at End of Watch
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1954

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph J. Brock is highlighted in Jul.

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 J. Brock was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location