Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Joseph Edd Roberts

Claiborne County Sheriff's Department — Port Gibson, MS

Felonious

End of Watch September 3, 1977

Age 73

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Joseph E. Roberts was shot and killed with his own weapon as he attempted to arrest a suspect for burglary. Deputy Roberts had served with the Claiborne County Sheriff's Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-25D3D071
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Roberts gave the Claiborne County Sheriff's Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Port Gibson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Roberts.

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

Agency

Department Claiborne County Sheriff's Department

Location Port Gibson, MS

Platform Identity ccso.claiborne.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 3, 1977

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 73

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Not available

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Edd Roberts 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Claiborne County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Claiborne County Sheriff's Department

of 3 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% 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 Edd Roberts'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 Edd Roberts 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

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Edd Roberts is highlighted in Sep.

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 Edd Roberts was killed by officer's handgun.

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

2 officers from Claiborne County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.