Henry Fort Brown
Policeman

Henry Fort Brown

Columbia Police Dept. — Columbia, SC
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch August 17, 1921
Age 45
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Henry Brown was shot and killed by a prowler he confronted near the intersection of Park Street and First Street (modern-day Abbeville Street), at Camp Fornance, just after midnight.

A suspect who claimed to have seen the officer shot and killed by a prowler was held for investigation, but the shooting remains unsolved.

Policeman Brown was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Columbia Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-AA905A25
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Policeman Brown gave the Columbia Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Columbia, SC
Platform Identity cpd.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 17, 1921
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Pistol
Offender Unsolved

Military Service

Henry Fort Brown served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Policeman Henry Fort 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbia Police Dept., 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Columbia Police Dept.
5
of 10 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 438 officers
61.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Henry Fort Brown Compares

Age at End of Watch
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Unsolved

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry Fort Brown is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry Fort Brown was killed by handgun; pistol.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location