Roll of Honor
Joe Big Knife
Incident
Officer Big Knife was shot and killed on the Quapaw Indian Reservation in Oklahoma when he and several other officers went to evict members of a family that had returned to a location after they had already been removed once. As the officers approached the home a friend of the family opened fire on them with a shotgun, striking Officer Big Knife in the head.
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BO-US-7F48C018- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Big Knife served with the United States Department of the Interior.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Joe Big Knife is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 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 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.
At United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, 45 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Big Knife's cause is highlighted.
How Joe Big Knife Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Big Knife is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe Big Knife was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
51 officers from United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
