Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Earl Brown was shot and killed while searching a suspicious subject who was walking with a shotgun in Jackson County. Trooper Brown and a Columbus police officer were called to investigate a suspicious man walking with a shotgun along U.S. 31-A. Upon locating the subject, about 400 feet south of the Bartholomew and Jackson county line at 5:00 am, he surrendered the shotgun without resistance. As he was being searched, he pulled a pistol from his hip pocket and shot Trooper Brown twice. The 31-year-old suspect was shot three times and critically wounded by the Columbus police officer. He was later judged to be insane and was committed to a maximum-security facility for life. In 1962 he was transfered to the state mental hospital where he died on November 13, 1962. Trooper Brown had served with the Indiana State Police for nearly 15 years and was assigned to the Seymour post. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and two brothers, one of which was a detective with the Columbus Police Department. He was preceded in death by a daughter.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and two brothers, one of which was a detective with the Columbus Police Department.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-D2FB45C0- 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.
Trooper Brown gave the Indiana State Police 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Earl LeRoy 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Indiana State Police, 21 of 46 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl LeRoy Brown's cause is highlighted.
How Earl LeRoy Brown Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl LeRoy Brown is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl LeRoy Brown was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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