Alfred Basler
Agency patch
Captain

Alfred Basler

Brownsville Police Department — Brownsville, TX
Felonious
End of Watch March 9, 1945
Age 46
The Vigil Panel 81 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Captain Basler was shot and killed when he and another officer responded to a prowler call on Levee Street. When they arrived on the scene they encountered a man walking towards the front of a house. The man opened fire when the officers told him to stop. The suspect fled but was arrested later. On June 26, 1945, the suspect, 31, was sentenced to life. He was paroled on October 17, 1959, but sent back to prison a year later for violating his parole. He was paroled a second time on October 13, 1964.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-BB214D57
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 Alfred. Claim this record.

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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Basler served with the Brownsville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Brownsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Basler.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Brownsville, Cameron County, TX
Platform Identity bpd.cameron.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 9, 1945
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Captain Alfred Basler is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Brownsville Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Brownsville Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alfred Basler's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Alfred Basler Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alfred Basler is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alfred Basler was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909