Robert D. Brown
Agency patch
Deputy Constable

Robert D. Brown

Felonious
End of Watch April 20, 1929
Age 50
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 57 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Constable Robert Brown and Deputy Constable Charles Stanner were shot and killed from ambush at a dance hall approximately three miles west of Brownsville.

He was speaking to a patron outside of the dance hall when several men appeared and opened fire on him from behind, shooting him 14 times. The men then shot and fatally wounded Deputy Constable Stanner as he came to assist.

Deputy Constable Brown died after being taken to Mercy Hospital. Deputy Constable Stanner succumbed to his wounds five days later. A suspect in their murders was arrested on June 16th, 1929. He confessed to being paid 15 pesos to murder Deputy Constable Brown.

On October 4, 1929, the suspect, 22, plead guilty to murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was paroled on October 28, 1941.

Deputy Constable Brown had served in law enforcement for approximately 15 years. He had previously served with the United State Customs Service, Cameron County Sheriff's Office, Mission Police Department, and Texas Rangers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A5F53AA8
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 Constable Brown gave the Cameron County Constable's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Brownsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Brown.

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

Agency

Location Brownsville, TX
Platform Identity cccop2co.cameron.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 20, 1929
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Paroled in 1941

Deputy Constable Robert D. 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cameron County Constable's Office - Precinct 2, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Cameron County Constable's Office - Precinct 2
5
of 5 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert D. Brown's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Robert D. Brown Compares

Age at End of Watch
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1941

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert D. Brown is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert D. Brown was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518