Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Harnest was shot and killed by a farmer who mistook him for an escaped convict. Deputy Harnest had gone to the man's farm in Sweeney as part of a robbery investigation. The farmer mistook Deputy Harnest for the original suspect and shot him twice.
Survivors
Deputy Harnest was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-3C596CCE- 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 Harnest served with the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Angleton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Harnest.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Arthur Harnest 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 Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Arthur Harnest's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Arthur Harnest Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Arthur Harnest is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Arthur Harnest was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Brazoria County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
