Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Joseph Norris succumbed to injuries sustained the night before when he attempted to arrest two men who were attempting to break into a home on Fifth Avenue.
Chief Norris had just returned home for the night when he was called and alerted to the incident, which was occurring only one block away from his home. He located the subjects on the front porch of a home at 516 Fifth Avenue, and discovered they were both drunk.
He began to escort the two men to the borough jail but as they approached the jail at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Seventh Street the two men started to become beligerent. One of the men punched Chief Norris in the head, knocking him to the ground and causing a skull fracture when his head hit a curb. Both men were subdued by citizens and placed in the jail.
Chief Norris never regained consciousness and died the following morning.
The suspects, ages 25 and 26, were released after posting bail. Ten days later one, who worked for the railroad, was killed when he fell underneath a train. The other suspect was acquitted after his attorney convinced the jury that the other suspect caused Constable Norris' death.
Chief Norris had served with Juniata Borough Police Department for 13 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-3056FF3E- Stewardship
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- 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.
Chief of Police Norris gave the Juniata Borough Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Altoona community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Norris.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Joseph Wilson Norris 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Wilson Norris's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Wilson Norris Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Wilson Norris is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Wilson Norris was killed by person.