Prev
Incident
Trooper Brian Linn was killed in an automobile crash while responding to assist in a foot pursuit in Kearneysville.
While traveling westbound on Route 9, lights and sirens activated when his vehicle went out of control and struck a utility pole. He was transported to Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Trooper Linn was a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He had served with the West Virginia State Police for two years and was assigned to the Charles Town Detachment.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpadv7ss4re2k938ff92- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Brian. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Brian is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Linn gave the West Virginia State Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Brian William Linn served in the U.S. Army (2001â2001) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
West Virginia State Police has lost 42 officers; 20 of them lost to accidents.
Brian is one of 54 officers lost to accidents in WV, 23.3% of the 232 remembered there.
Brian is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Brian is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2007, 1 officer at West Virginia State Police was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2007, 2 officers in WV were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2007, 94 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 11th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2007, 103 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 17th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Brian was 25. Of the 16 lost to accidents at West Virginia State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 34; the middle age was 30. Brian had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Brian was 25. Of the 46 lost to accidents in WV whose age is recorded, half were between 26.3 and 46.3; the middle age was 33.5. Brian had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Brian was 25. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Brian had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Brian was 25. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Brian had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 20% of these deaths at West Virginia State Police, more than any other month. Saturdays: 20%.
November holds 16.7% of these deaths in WV, more than any other month. Saturdays: 18.5%.
November holds 8.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 47.6% of all 42 deaths at West Virginia State Police, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.3% of all 232 deaths in WV, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
West Virginia State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Brian among them.
-
Ernest Lee Ripley
Nov 18, 1920
-
Charles M. Kackley
May 25, 1921
-
William Lee McMillion
Jun 28, 1921
-
George Albert Duling
Aug 28, 1921
-
Howard Addison Deem
Jun 3, 1922
-
James Blaine Shrewsbury
Jul 16, 1923
-
Ulric Linton Crawford
Jun 20, 1924
-
Theodore R. Meadows
Apr 17, 1926
-
James Lewis Lowe
Jun 28, 1926
-
Blake Allison Michael
May 1, 1927
-
Arza A. Allen
Nov 1, 1928
-
William Hall
Oct 18, 1930
-
Farley K. Litton
Nov 8, 1935
-
Allen Henry Bennett Jeffreys
Jul 16, 1939
-
Franklin D. Patrick
Aug 27, 1939
-
Newton Tressel Sites
Sep 2, 1942
-
Burr White Harrison
Dec 3, 1945
-
Joseph Pierce Horne
Sep 9, 1946
-
Arthur M. Hurst
Jun 17, 1949
-
Robert F. Rulong
Feb 10, 1958
-
Harry E. Robinson
Nov 27, 1962
-
William Joseph Shrewsbury
Sep 28, 1963
-
Robert Ball Noechel
Nov 1, 1965
-
Hugh Donald Swartz
Oct 5, 1970
-
Thomas Dean Hercules
Jan 12, 1977
-
Charles Henry Johnson
Jan 12, 1977
-
Bruce Thompson Brown
Oct 14, 1977
-
Dewey Colen Shrewsbury
Oct 25, 1978
-
Philip S. Kesner
Nov 7, 1979
-
Carlen Bill Stone
Dec 16, 1982
-
Harry G. Lucas, Jr.
Sep 12, 1984
-
Jonathan David Harris
Jul 11, 1985
-
William Howard Phillips
Jul 30, 1987
-
James Thomas Brammer
Apr 15, 1989
-
Larry Gene Hacker
Apr 9, 1993
-
Charles Matthew Turner
Apr 4, 1996
-
Douglas Wayne Bland
Jan 19, 1999
-
Brian William Linn
Nov 3, 2007
-
Marshall Lee Bailey
Aug 28, 2012
-
Eric Michael Workman
Aug 31, 2012
-
Joseph George Portaro
Mar 14, 2016
-
Cory Maynard
Jun 2, 2023
Where
Military Service
Brian William Linn served in the U.S. Army (2001–2001) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Brian William Linn’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from West Virginia State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
