Rufus Earle Brown
Agency patch
Corporal

Rufus Earle Brown

Mobile Police Department — Mobile, AL
Felonious
End of Watch March 23, 1997
Age 53
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal Rufus Brown succumbed to injuries received four years earlier when he was beaten by a drunk male during the city's Mardi Gras celebration on February 23rd, 1993.

He had responded to a call of the male creating a disturbance at the intersection of Government Street and South Dearborn Street. While on the scene the male beat Corporal Brown's head against a cement curb in the street. The injuries caused Corporal Brown to begin suffering seizures, forcing him to retire in 1993.

On March 23rd, 1997, Corporal Brown suffered a grand mal seizure and died as a result. The seizures were determined to be a direct result of the assault in 1993.

Corporal Brown had been employed with the Mobile Police Department for 26 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-F389A61D
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Rufus. 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

26 years. You could have gone home.
Corporal Brown gave the Mobile Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Mobile community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Brown.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Mobile, Mobile County, AL
Platform Identity mpd.mobile.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 23, 1997
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person

Corporal Rufus Earle 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mobile Police Department, 18 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.3% of this agency's fallen.

Mobile Police Department
18
of 23 officers
78.3% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Rufus Earle Brown Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rufus Earle Brown is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rufus Earle Brown was killed by person.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location