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Patrolman

Joseph Andrew Edwards

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch August 28, 1972
Age 29
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 552
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Edwards was shot and killed when he was ambushed while responding to a call for help. Patrolman Edwards and his partner were responding to a domestic violence call. When they arrived at the given address, on Franklin Park, southeast of Nelson Road, they realized it was a fake call. As the patrolmen were driving through the area, the suspect walked around the patrol car to the driver's side and shot Patrolman Edwards with a 12 gauge shotgun, causing Patrolman Edwards to lose control of the vehicle. The suspect was apprehended in Beaumont, Texas, on January 9, 1973. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. On August 9, 1978, he was released from prison when evidence surfaced that showed the investigation was mishandled. The State of Ohio decided not to retry him. Patrolman Edwards had been with the Columbus Division of Police for two years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Edwards gave the Columbus Division of Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Edwards.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police
Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 28, 1972
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 552
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1972, 142 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 29. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Joseph Andrew Edwards

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch August 28, 1972

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E

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