Joseph C. Flanders

Swainsboro Police Department — Swainsboro, GA

Felonious

End of Watch July 18, 1902

Age 31

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Officer Flanders was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a murder suspect. When he ordered the man to come down off his wagon he raised a rifle and shot Officer Flanders once killing him instantly. The suspect fled to South Carolina where he shot and killed Deputy Sheriff Chester Ahl, of the Aiken County Sheriff's Department, five days later. The suspect was shot and killed by two deputy sheriffs in Andalusia, Alabama on March 5, 1903.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-475B1AB0
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Flanders served with the Swainsboro Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Swainsboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Flanders.

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

Agency

Department Swainsboro Police Department

Location Swainsboro, GA

Platform Identity spd.emanuel.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 18, 1902

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Winchester

Offender Shot and killed

Police Officer Joseph C. Flanders 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 Swainsboro Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Swainsboro Police Department

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious