Sheriff Joseph S. Dawson
Cocke County Sheriff's Department
Tennessee
End of Watch: Thursday, April 20, 1899

Biographical Info
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, April 20, 1899
Incident Location: North Carolina
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Arrested

Sheriff Dawson was shot and killed in Haywood County, North Carolina, while accompanying a posse in search for illegal stills. The posse had located a still and had arrested one person. As they headed back to Cocke County in the darkness they stopped to discuss the prisoner. They deputies were illuminated by a lantern when a shot was fired from the woods and struck Sheriff Dawson in the neck.

Sheriff Dawson had served with the Cocke County Sheriff's Department for 3 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.