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Joe Mason Westbrook
Agency patch
Reserve Deputy Sheriff

Joe Mason Westbrook

Harris County Sheriff's Office — Houston, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch July 1, 1979
Age 43
The Vigil Panel 267 ›
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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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.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

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
II

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
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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Harris County Sheriff's Office has 56 officers remembered here, Joe among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Reserve Deputy Sheriff Joe Mason Westbrook

Harris County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch July 1, 1979

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W

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