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Deputy U.S. Marshal

Joseph P. Heinrichs

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch March 15, 1899
The Vigil Panel 39 · Column 2 · Line 7 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Heinrichs was killed by a suspect he had arrested for selling whiskey in Indian Territory. On Tuesday, March 14, 1899, Deputy Marshal Heinrichs and a posse-man arrested the suspect in the Cherokee Nation for selling whiskey. Deputy Marshal Heinrichs took the prisoner to his home in Tahlequah to spend the night before transporting him to the federal jail in Muskogee. The posseman did not accompany them. Deputy Marshal Heinrichs slept in the same bed as his prisoner. About 3 A.M., Deputy Marshal Heinrich's wife and two daughters were awakened by a gunshot. Deputy Marshal Heinrichs was found dead in the bed and it was discovered that the suspect had escaped out a window. The suspect was captured two days later and charged with the deputy marshal’s death. The posseman was also charged when the suspect alleged he had given him the gun and several rounds of ammunition to escape.

Survivors

Deputy Marshal Heinrichs was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Heinrichs served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1899
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1899, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Joseph P. Heinrichs

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch March 15, 1899

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W

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