Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joe Edwards was shot and killed while serving a warrant wanted for assault and battery.
Deputy Edwards had gone to the man's home but he wasn't there. The man then confronted Deputy Edwards a short time later and shot him once in the chest, killing him.
The man was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death by electrocution. His sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison March 21, 1951.
Deputy Edwards was survived by his wife and nine children.
Survivors
Deputy Edwards was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-8FCE1139- 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 Edwards served with the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Denmark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Edwards.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joe E. Edwards 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Madison County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe E. Edwards's cause is highlighted.
How Joe E. Edwards Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe E. Edwards is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe E. Edwards was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Madison County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
