Joseph Warren Brown
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Joseph Warren Brown

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch January 28, 1869
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 3 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Brown and Sheriff Isaac McCleaird 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.

Deputy was a Confederate Army veteran of the Civil War.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-C3B57348
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.
Deputy Sheriff Brown served with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office.
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

Location Jasper, GA
Platform Identity pcso.pickens.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 28, 1869
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Joseph Warren Brown served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Warren Brown 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.

Pickens County Sheriff's Office
2
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 Warren Brown'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 Warren Brown Compares

Age at End of Watch
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Warren Brown is highlighted in Jan.

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 Warren Brown was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Pickens County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.