Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Charles Bell was shot and killed as he and his deputy attempted to arrest a drunken blacksmith. Sheriff Bell and the deputy went to the suspect’s home, and while upstairs, the suspect stormed in and shot Sheriff Bell. The deputy returned fire and killed the suspect. The deputy, George Washington Batton, was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 3, 1922, while serving as sheriff of Eddy County, New Mexico. Sheriff Bell had served with the Brown County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-78B8294A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Bell gave the Brown County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Brownwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Charles Bell is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Brown County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Bell's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Bell Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Bell is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Bell was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Brown County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
