Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Robert Britton succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when he was attacked by an injured cow while directing traffic around the animal.
Deputy Britton responded to the scene of a a vehicle collision between a car and cow on Farm Road 344. As he directed traffic around the injured cow, it unexpectedly charged him and knocked him into the air. Deputy Britton landed on his head and suffered severe head injuries. The cow continued attacking him until other deputies were able to pull him to safety.
Deputy Britton was transported to East Texas Medical Center where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.
Deputy Britton had served with the Smith County Sheriff's Office for 19 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-594DC2B7- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Britton gave the Smith County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tyler community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Britton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Robert Leo Britton, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Smith County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Leo Britton, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Robert Leo Britton, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Leo Britton, Jr. is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Smith County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
