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Trooper First Class

James Thomas Brammer

West Virginia State Police — South Charleston, WV

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 15, 1989

Age 42

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 265

The Vigil Panel 134 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 41

Incident

Trooper J.T. Brammer was shot and killed while he and another officer attempted to serve a warrant on an elderly man for traffic violations in Terra Alta in Preston County. As the officers reached the front door, the man's wife informed them he was not home. However, the man was waiting in a bedroom armed with a rifle. The suspect opened fire on the officers, killing Trooper Brammer and wounding his partner. Trooper Brammer's partner was able to return fire and wounded the suspect, who then committed suicide. Trooper Brammer had served with the West Virginia State Police for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and two children. His brother was also a Trooper for the West Virginia State Police.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-1363388F
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper First Class Brammer gave the West Virginia State Police 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper First Class Brammer.

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

Agency

Department West Virginia State Police

Type State Police

Location South Charleston, WV

Platform Identity wvsp.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1989

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 265

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

James Thomas Brammer served in the U.S. Army (1967â1969) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper First Class James Thomas Brammer 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At West Virginia State Police, 21 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia State Police

of 42 officers

50% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious