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Joseph Norman Dennis
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Joseph Norman Dennis

Harris County Sheriff's Office — Houston, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch May 22, 2001
Age 35
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 148 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 55

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Dennis was shot and killed by a suspect after responding to a domestic disturbance between a brother and sister.

The brother had taken the sister's car the previous night and had returned it with damage the next morning. Deputy Dennis encountered the suspect in the area of Oakland Drive and Plum Ridge Drive and while attempting to arrest him, a struggle ensued. During the struggle, Deputy Dennis was able to get a handcuff on the suspect, but the man was able to grab a concealed handgun and shot Deputy Dennis in the head. Deputy Dennis was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The suspect fled the scene but was arrested later in the afternoon with the handcuff still on his wrist and Deputy Dennis' weapon in his possession.

The suspect was sentenced to death for the murder on December 6, 2001. On January 29, 2008, the suspect committed suicide in his cell while awaiting his execution date.

Deputy Dennis had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 14 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, who is also a deputy, a son, a daughter, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Dennis gave the Harris County Sheriff's Office 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dennis.

— 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 May 22, 2001
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .25 caliber

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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2001, 158 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 23rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 35. 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 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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; .25 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Norman Dennis

Harris County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch May 22, 2001

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-E

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