Bibb County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch Thursday, March 23, 2006
Add to My HeroesJoseph Tim Whitehead, Jr.
Deputy Joseph Whitehead was shot and killed while he and other deputies were serving a no-nock search warrant at a home on Atherton Avenue.
Deputy Whitehead and several other officers were executing a search warrant they had obtained during a narcotics investigation. When they entered the location, two suspects inside opened fire on them. Deputy Whitehead was struck once in the chest and once in the face. The round that struck Deputy Whitehead in the chest was absorbed by his bullet-resistant vest.
Deputy Whitehead was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wound approximately 30 minutes later.
Five people in the home were arrested and charged with murder in connection with Deputy Whitehead's death. The suspect who shot Deputy Whitehead faces the death penalty. On June 15, 2012, one of the other suspects was convicted of Deputy Whitehead's murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in 30 years. In 2018 three, 19, 21, and 28, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The fifth suspect was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, sent to prison, and paroled on September 24, 2010.
Deputy Whitehead was a United States Air Force veteran and had served in law enforcement for 11 years. He is survived by his wife, three children, his mother, and his sister.
Bio
- Age 36
- Tour 11 years
- Badge 1327
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 468 ReflectionsHey Brother. I’ve been thinking about you and the last time we saw each other when you and Andrea were at lunch. Missing you man! Keep the over watch!
Cpl Kenny Herring
Metro Narcotics Task Force / GNOA
March 24, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024