Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Oklahoma Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available
Sheriff Joseph Lanier was fatally shot by a man seeking revenge against him.
Sheriff Lanier had been enforcing permit laws on Choctaw Nation land and had enforcement an order issued by the governor ordering the subject to leave the land. On September 22nd, 1881, Sheriff Lanier was in a store in Skullyville with his wife when he encountered the subject. The man confronted him and followed him into a backroom. As Sheriff Lanier walked back into the main part of the store the man fatally shot him.
The man fled the scene.
Most of society lives in a world that doesn’t recognize what gives them the comforts they live in. Because of you, and people like you, society can live that way.
You put the badge on to make the community a better place. You put the badge on for justice. You put the badge on to save life. You put the badge on for the principles it represents. The badges didn’t make you a hero, the badge was worn by a hero. To your family, and the generations that followed, thank you for your service. Be proud of this man, I am.
Sergeant Christian Yanchula Forensic Services Indian River County Sheriff's Office September 22nd, 2022
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-CCN-TR-156069D6- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Lanier served with the Choctaw Nation Public Safety Department.
Thank you for your service to the Duran community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Joseph Lanier 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Lanier's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Lanier Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Lanier is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Lanier was killed by gun; unknown type.