Roll of Honor
Joseph Turner Brown
Incident
Inspector Joseph Brown succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered on April 2nd, 1940, near Sebastian, Cameron County, Texas, when he and his partner confronted two suspected bootleggers. The officers stopped the suspects' vehicle on County Line Road five miles west of Sebastian at 12:30 am. One of the men opened fire and wounded both officers. The officers returned fire and wounded one of the men. The other subject fled the scene but was later arrested. Both men were charged with murder. His partner suffered minor wounds to his hip and scalp. Twenty gallons of contraband liquor were found inside of the car they had stopped. Inspector Brown succumbed to his wounds on April 9th, 1940. On June 4, 1940, one suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years. The other was acquitted. Inspector Brown was survived by his wife and four children. He was buried in Denton, Texas.
Survivors
Inspector Brown was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-2165F2CB- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
U.S. Customs Inspector Brown served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, U.S. Customs Inspector Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
U.S. Customs Inspector Joseph Turner 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Turner Brown's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Turner Brown Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 99 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Turner Brown is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Turner Brown was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
