Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Joseph Early Fennell

Cadwell Police Department — Cadwell, GA

Felonious

End of Watch November 1, 1942

Age 46

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

The Vigil Panel 79 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Chief Joseph Fennell was stabbed to death by a man he was attempting to arrest. The suspect, 30, was apprehended the same day. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled on March 24, 1949, because the state could not provide him with the special diet he needed for stomach ulcers. Chief Fennell had served with the Cadwell Police Department for three years and previously served with the Chester Police Department for 22 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 12 children.

In Our Keeping

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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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Fennell gave the Cadwell Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cadwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Fennell.

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

Agency

Department Cadwell Police Department

Location Cadwell, GA

Platform Identity cpd.laurens.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 1, 1942

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Offender Paroled in 1949

Chief of Police Joseph Early Fennell 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 Cadwell Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Cadwell Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% 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 Early Fennell'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 Early Fennell Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1949

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Early Fennell is highlighted in Nov.

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 Early Fennell was killed by edged weapon.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Cadwell Police Department are honored on badge.nw.