Incident
Officer Graham died from an infection as a result of being bitten on the finger while making an arrest 6 weeks earlier. Officer Graham was on his way home when he was involved in a car accident at 25th Street and Market Street. He noticed that the other driver was intoxicated and told the man he was under arrest. The man began to resist and bit Officer Graham on the tip of his right middle finger. Officer Graham was able to complete the arrest.
The finger began to swell and he was admitted to the hospital on April 11. He was admitted into emergency surgery and had the finger amputated. The surgery failed to stop the infection and he was admitted to the hospital again. He died as a result of the infection on May 10.
Officer Graham had served with the Fort Worth Police Department for 9 years. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Graham gave the Fort Worth Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Graham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Fort Worth Police Department has lost 59 officers; 4 of them lost to illness.
Joe is one of 204 officers lost to illness in TX, 8.4% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Joe is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joe is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1935, 1 officer in TX was lost to illness, the 7th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 99.
In 1935, 4 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 29th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 1935, 8 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 60th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Joe was 38. Of the 201 lost to illness in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 59; the middle age was 53. Joe had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Joe was 38. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Joe had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Joe was 38. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Joe had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
May holds 4.4% of these deaths in TX; September holds the most, 16.7%. Fridays: 12.7%.
May holds 6.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
May holds 6.7% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 6.8% of all 59 deaths at Fort Worth Police Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.4% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Fort Worth Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Joe among them.
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C. Lee Waller
Jun 30, 1892
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Andrew J. Grimes
May 12, 1902
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John D. Nichols, Jr.
Dec 22, 1906
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William Addison Campbell
Aug 12, 1909
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James R. Dodd
Jan 27, 1912
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John A. Ogletree
May 15, 1913
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R. P. Hollowell
Dec 26, 1914
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G. Frank Coffey
Jun 26, 1915
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Peter Howard
Aug 16, 1915
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George Francis Conant
Oct 27, 1916
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Charles Edward Parsley
Sep 28, 1917
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Sterling Price Warren
May 7, 1919
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George G. Gresham
Apr 8, 1920
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Jeff C. Couch
Dec 20, 1920
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John D. Bell
Aug 13, 1921
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Webster C. Gentry
Apr 25, 1922
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Lewis J. Lewis, Jr.
Mar 7, 1923
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Bertram F. Brewster
Jan 13, 1925
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Frank Maco
Dec 23, 1926
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George Turner
May 20, 1928
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Joe V. Graham
May 10, 1935
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G. Parker Driskill
Nov 11, 1935
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William J. Courtney
Mar 24, 1938
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Thomas C. Bounds
Dec 9, 1938
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Marshall C. Kennedy
Jul 16, 1941
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Walton Odell Whatley, Jr.
Aug 2, 1949
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Henry E. Cleveland
Feb 7, 1952
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Charles W. Hoffman
Jun 17, 1952
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Namon L. Cox, Jr.
Jun 20, 1952
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Marvin Elton Wills, Sr.
Dec 25, 1955
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James L. Dowdy, Jr.
Jun 17, 1956
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Claude H. Harmon, Jr.
Oct 16, 1957
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Loy H. Walton
May 20, 1959
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Thaddeaus James Stevenson
Oct 25, 1961
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Jesse Montgomery
Feb 3, 1968
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Hal Clovis Stephenson
Oct 2, 1968
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Edward M. Belcher
Oct 29, 1971
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William Vernon Welch
May 21, 1973
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Henry Paul Mailloux
Nov 29, 1975
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Ludwig Bruno
Mar 2, 1977
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Randall Lynn Fletcher
Aug 31, 1977
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Jesse R. Parris
Sep 6, 1977
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Jimmie F. Chadwell
Dec 11, 1978
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Ronald G. Turner
Dec 20, 1978
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James Curtiss Gaul
Jan 10, 1979
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Kenneth Wayne Pendergraft
Apr 8, 1980
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Darrell Gene Moon
Jul 14, 1980
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Robert F. Camfield
Nov 19, 1983
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Walter Stephen Taylor
Oct 5, 1988
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Brent David Wisdom
Sep 2, 1992
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Donald James Manning
Jun 27, 1993
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Alan Frederick Chick
Dec 27, 1993
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Jesse Don Moorman
Mar 31, 1994
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Henry Nava, Jr.
Dec 1, 2005
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Dwayne N. Freeto
Dec 17, 2006
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Garrett Willis Hull
Sep 14, 2018
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Eric Gonzales
Jul 5, 2020
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Jon Arden Jenson
Oct 28, 2023
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Billy Randolph
Aug 12, 2024
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-E
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