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Incident
Sheriff Santiago A. Brito was assassinated at approximately 2:30 a.m. on August 21, 1892.
Sheriff Brito and two of his sons were returning from a dance, located on the eastern outskirts of Brownsville. As his open horse-drawn coach approached the Thirteenth Street crossing of the “Town Resaca,” the assassin stepped behind the coach and fired two bullets into the back of Sheriff Brito’s head.
Despite large rewards offered for information relative to the crime, his murderer was never caught. Rumors at the time reported Sheriff Brito’s murder was the result of a long-standing grudge.
Brito was first elected sheriff on November 2, 1880, and served until November 4, 1890, when he was defeated in a hotly contested election by Matthew L. Browne. Brito was then appointed Brownsville City Marshal on December 1, 1890. When Sheriff Browne accidentally shot and killed himself on April 12, 1892, the Cameron County Commissioners' Court appointed Brito as sheriff to fill the unexpired term of Browne.
Before being elected sheriff, he owned El Democrata, a Spanish-language newspaper in Brownsville, Texas. He was probably born in the Rio Grande Valley. Brito was married and was the father of 5 children.
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Brito gave the Cameron County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Olmito community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Cameron County Sheriff's Office has lost 13 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
Santiago is one of 1,462 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,423 remembered there.
Santiago is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Santiago is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1892, 1 officer at Cameron County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 2.
In 1892, 18 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1892, 81 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1892, 84 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Santiago had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 0.5 years.
Santiago had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Santiago had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Santiago had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 8.3% of these deaths at Cameron County Sheriff's Office; June holds the most, 33.3%. Sundays: 33.3%.
August holds 8% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Sundays: 16.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 92.3% of all 13 deaths at Cameron County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 8.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,423 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Cameron County Sheriff's Office has 13 officers remembered here, Santiago among them.
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Robert L. Johnson Sep 28, 1859
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Matthew L. Browne Apr 11, 1892
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Santiago A. Brito Aug 21, 1892
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Samuel Cobb Apr 5, 1898
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Henry B. Lawrence Jul 31, 1910
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Encarnacion Cuellar Jul 12, 1915
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Frank Martin, Sr. Nov 25, 1917
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George Ramsey Carpenter Jun 3, 1922
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Andres Reyes Jun 3, 1922
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Lee Dicken Jun 1, 1926
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William Horace Johnson
Jun 9, 1928
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Louis Mackey Chaudoin Feb 19, 1936
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Albert Kingsley Parker
Oct 14, 1945
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cameron County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
