Roll of Honor
Joseph James Dunn
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joe Dunn was struck and killed by a vehicle that was being pursued by other deputies near Belt, Montana.
The driver of the vehicle had been pursued from Great Falls, Montana, along Highway 87 at high speeds when he struck Deputy Dunn near mile marker 77, as Deputy Dunn attempted to deploy spike strips. The man then turned around and continued back to Great Falls, where he was taken into custody.
On December 11th, 2015, the man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Deputy Dunn was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Cascade County Sheriff's Office for 2-1/2 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-6D4DB7B1- 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 Dunn gave the Cascade County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Great Falls 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
Joseph James Dunn served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Joseph James Dunn 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 MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cascade 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. Joseph James Dunn's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph James Dunn Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph James Dunn is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph James Dunn was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cascade County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
