Chesnee Police Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, June 9, 1967
Age: 68
Tour of Duty: 19 years, 11 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 9, 1967
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Life in prison
Chief Joe Wall was shot and killed by a drunk male he had just arrested.
Chief Wall was called to Watson's Furniture Store to make a routine arrest. A 45-year-old man was intoxicated and was making a disturbance. The chief had taken him into custody and placed him in the back seat of his patrol car. After he got in to drive, the man reached over the seat, got the chief's gun, and shot him once in the head. The mayor, who happened to be near the altercation, took the prisoner into custody.
Chief Wall had killed the man's brother the year before during an arrest. A coroner's jury had ruled the shooting was justified. Four days before this incident, the Chesnee town council had voted to install a barrier between the front and back seat of the patrol car.
The suspect was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Chief Wall had served on the Chesnee police force for almost 20 years. He was due to retire July 1. He is survived by his wife, three sons, and two daughters.