Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Buchanan and Sheriff Thomas Ragsdale were shot and killed as they attempted to serve warrants on suspected horse thiefs. As the officers approached the house the two brothers opened fire, killing them.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-874C772F- 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
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Buchanan served with the Fannin County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bonham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph R. Buchanan is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Fannin County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph R. Buchanan's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph R. Buchanan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph R. Buchanan is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Fannin County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
