Joseph E. White, a 61-year-old African American male, was the Chief of Police for the Rich Square Police Department in North Carolina. On July 16, 2000, Chief White was shot and killed while investigating a possible gas drive-off at a local gas station. He had stopped a vehicle in the parking lot of the Rich Square Dialysis Center when he was fatally shot.
The investigation into Chief White's death led to the arrest of Jason Dwayne Hebert, a 25-year-old from Carencro, Louisiana, on May 1, 2003. Hebert was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on September 12, 2005.
Chief White was highly respected in his community and had a long career in law enforcement, serving both in the U.S. Navy and as a deputy sheriff and corrections officer before becoming Chief of Police. His dedication to his community and his role as a volunteer firefighter and Sunday school teacher were well-remembered by those who knew him.
The loss of Chief White was deeply felt in Rich Square, and his legacy continues to be honored, including the naming of the U.S. Post Office in Rich Square in his memory.
