Archibald D. Brandon
Agency patch
Special Agent

Archibald D. Brandon

Felonious
End of Watch April 19, 1931
Age 57
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 61 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Kansas Weapon: Handgun Offender: Convicted of murder

Special Agent Archibald Brandon was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a trespasser in the railroad's yards in Topeka, Kansas.

He had already removed the man from a train and told him to leave. When the man tried to board a second train Special Agent Brandon attempted to arrest him. The man pulled out a revolver, shot Special Agent Brandon, and then fled the area by swimming across the Kansas River.

The man was arrested and convicted of Special Agent Brandon's murder.

Special Agent Brandon had served in law enforcement for 12 years. He was survived by his wife and two siblings. He was predeceased by his parents and one sister.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-9E60FC64
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Brandon gave the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Brandon.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Rock Island, IL
Platform Identity criprpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 19, 1931
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Special Agent Archibald D. Brandon 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department, 13 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department
13
of 13 officers
100% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% 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. Archibald D. Brandon's cause is highlighted.

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

How Archibald D. Brandon Compares

Age at Death
57
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Archibald D. Brandon is highlighted in Apr.

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. Archibald D. Brandon was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location