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Patrol Officer

Joseph Francis Doyle

Brown University Police Department — Providence, RI

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 8, 1988

Age 55

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 133 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrol Officer Joseph Doyle succumbed to major head trauma received while struggling with a trespasser on March 28, 1988. Officer Doyle was a United States Air Force Korean War veteran and served with the Brown University Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, mother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RI-D463B642
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.
Patrol Officer Doyle gave the Brown University Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Providence community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Brown University Police Department

Location Providence, RI

Platform Identity buup.providence.ri.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 8, 1988

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Apprehended

Military Service

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

Patrol Officer Joseph Francis Doyle 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 RI, 25 of 55 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this state's fallen. That is 8.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Brown University Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

RI — Statewide

of 55 officers

45.5% 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 Francis Doyle'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 Francis Doyle 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

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Francis Doyle is highlighted in May.

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 Francis Doyle was killed by person.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518