Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Talley succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two years earlier when he was shot after responding to a disturbance at a local bar.
Deputy Talley instructed the subject causing the disturbance to leave. As the man did so he pulled out a handgun and shot Deputy Talley in the back. The round severed Deputy Talley's spinal cord, causing him to become paralyzed. He died as a result of his injuries two years later.
Deputy Talley had served with the Newton County Sheriff's Department for only five months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-0BFF3D95- 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 Talley served with the Newton County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Newton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Talley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Obie Talley 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Newton County Sheriff's Department, 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 Obie Talley's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Obie Talley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Obie Talley is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Obie Talley was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Newton County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
