Joseph Vega

Charleston Police Dept. — Charleston, SC

Cardiac

End of Watch October 12, 1955

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 23

Incident

Lieutenant Vega suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to break up a fight between two airmen on Wentworth Street while off duty. One of the subjects attempted to flee the scene and was chased by another off duty patrolman. When the patrolman returned to the scene he found Lieutenant Vega on the ground. Both suspects were charged with being drunk and disorderly and fighting in the street. They were both fined $100.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-F49AD387
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Vega served with the Charleston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Vega.

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

Agency

Department Charleston Police Dept.

Location Charleston, SC

Platform Identity cpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 12, 1955

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Lieutenant Joseph Vega is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,584 officers honored here.

In SC, 20 of 439 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Charleston Police Dept., 2 of 24 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 8.3% of this agency's fallen.

Charleston Police Dept.

of 24 officers

8.3% Cardiac

SC — Statewide

of 439 officers

4.6% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,584 officers

4% Cardiac