Joe Mason Westbrook

Harris County Sheriff's Office — Houston, TX

Felonious

End of Watch July 1, 1979

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 55

Incident

Reserve Deputy Sheriff Joe Westbrook was shot execution-style while moonlighting as a security guard at a local restaurant at 2120 W 18th Street. Two men entered the restaurant and one of the men began talking to the deputy. The second man walked behind Deputy Westbrook, produced a handgun, and shot him in the back of the head without warning. The suspect then shot him three more times after he fell to the ground. The man also shot the cook as he ran towards the manager's office. The manager, hearing the gunshots, grabbed his own gun and shot the suspect as he came into the office, killing him. The second suspect fled the scene but was later arrested and executed for Reserve Deputy Westbrook's murder.

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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.
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Westbrook served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Deputy Sheriff Westbrook.

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

Agency

Department Harris County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Houston, Harris County, TX

Platform Identity hcso.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 1, 1979

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joe 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Joe was 43. 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.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded