Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Donald Brown was shot and killed when he responded to reports of a man pointing a shotgun at school children at 4:15 pm. The suspect was known to Deputy Brown, and when he arrived at the scene, the man's mother let him in the house. As Deputy Brown approached the second floor of the residence, the suspect appeared from a bedroom and shot Deputy Brown in the chest with the shotgun. On December 9, 1976, the suspect, 19, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years. Deputy Brown had served with the Yuba County Sheriff's Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7E79794B- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Brown gave the Yuba County Sheriff's Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Marysville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Donald Leeroy Brown 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Yuba County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Leeroy Brown's cause is highlighted.
How Donald Leeroy Brown Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 10 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Leeroy Brown is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Leeroy Brown was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Yuba County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
