Bruce Thompson Brown
Agency patch
Trooper

Bruce Thompson Brown

West Virginia State Police — South Charleston, WV
Felonious
End of Watch October 14, 1977
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Brown was shot and killed while he and another officer were transferring prisoners from one location to another. As they were logging the prisoners in, one of the men grabbed the other officer's service weapon. As Trooper Brown attempted to subdue the man he was shot. The suspect was eventually apprehended and is currently incarcerated at the West Virginia Penitentiary Mt.

Survivors

Olive, sentenced to life without parole Trooper Brown was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-C8F842BC
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Brown served with the West Virginia State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Brown.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location South Charleston, WV
Platform Identity wvsp.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 14, 1977
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Trooper Bruce Thompson Brown 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 97,756 officers honored here.

In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At West Virginia State Police, 21 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia State Police
21
of 42 officers
50% Felonious
WV — Statewide
169
of 232 officers
72.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,756 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bruce Thompson Brown's cause is highlighted.

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

How Bruce Thompson Brown Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bruce Thompson Brown is highlighted in Oct.

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. Bruce Thompson Brown was killed by officer's handgun.

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