Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Isaac McCleaird and Deputy Sheriff Joseph Brown were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a Tennessee jail escapee for stealing a horse.
They had received information that the man was at a farm several miles outside of Jasper. They located the man sitting at a table shaving inside the farmhouse. When Sheriff McCleaird put his hand on the man's shoulder and told him he was under arrest, the man reached down to his boot and pulled out a handgun. The man shot Sheriff McCleaird in the chest, killing him instantly.
Deputy Brown was shot as he rushed into the room. The subject then stole Sheriff McCleaird's horse and fled.
Deputy Brown succumbed to his wounds on January 28th, 1869.
Sheriff McCleaird was a Confederate Army veteran of the Civil War and had served as the county sheriff for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-B9133333- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sheriff McCleaird gave the Pickens County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jasper community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Isaac Elbert McCleaird served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff Isaac Elbert McCleaird 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 Pickens County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Isaac Elbert McCleaird's cause is highlighted.
How Isaac Elbert McCleaird Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Isaac Elbert McCleaird is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Isaac Elbert McCleaird was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Pickens County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
