Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Copeland was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to a report of a domestic disturbance. When they arrived on the scene they encountered a man holding a shotgun. Officer Copeland rolled down his window and told the man that he was a good man and that he wanted to talk to him. The suspect lowered the shotgun. When he heard the police radio report that backup was on its way he raised the gun again and opened fire, killing Officer Copeland and seriously wounding his partner. The suspect was apprehended by a state trooper near Blackshear after a chase that reached 100 miles per hour at times. On May 24, 1956, the suspect, 35, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Officer Copeland had been with the agency for 21 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-4F4C01B9- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Copeland gave the Brunswick Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Brunswick community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Copeland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Herbert D. Copeland 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Brunswick Police Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert D. Copeland's cause is highlighted.
How Herbert D. Copeland Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert D. Copeland is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herbert D. Copeland was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Brunswick Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
