Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Hobert Brown was shot and killed during a traffic stop by a driver with a sawed-off shotgun who had escaped from jail. The suspect had escaped from the Cherokee County Jail, where he was being held on a robbery charge a week earlier. The day before he shot Patrolman Brown, the suspect robbed two service stations in Woodstock and took both attendants hostage. He later shoved one victim from his car in Gilmer County. As they ran, he shot one in the back, leaving him in serious condition. However, the man was able to describe the vehicle and the suspect, who still had one man captive in the car. Around 6:30 a.m., State Police informed Patrolman Brown that the suspect was en route through Blue Ridge. When he spotted the vehicle, Patrolman Brown pulled him over. As he approached the car, the suspect fired, mortally wounding Patrolman Brown. The suspect drove away but was apprehended in Blairsville that night. The suspect, 23, had been released from a Milledgeville Mental Hospital a year earlier, but was released when doctors believed he knew right from wrong. On January 15, 1960, he was convicted of Patrolman Brown's murder and sentenced to death, dying in the electric chair on January 20, 1961. Patrolman Brown had served in law enforcement for 11 years. The Blue Ridge Police Department had only two officers, so Patrolman Brown worked seven nights a week. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and siblings. One of his brothers was a police officer with the Jasper Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-ADA57CB3- 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.
Patrolman Brown gave the Blue Ridge Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Blue Ridge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Hobert L. 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 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hobert L. Brown's cause is highlighted.
How Hobert L. Brown Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hobert L. Brown is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hobert L. Brown was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Blue Ridge Police Department are honored on badge.nw.