Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Santiago A. Brito was assassinated at approximately 2:30 a.m. on August 21, 1892. Sheriff Brito and two of his sons were returning from a baile (dance). The sheriff and his sons had been at the dance, located in eastern outskirts of Brownsville. As his open horse-drawn coach approached the Thirteenth Street crossing of the “Town Resaca,” the assassin stepped behind the coach and fired two bullets into the back of Sheriff Brito’s head.
Despite large rewards offered for information relative to the crime, his murderer was never caught. Rumors at the time reported Sheriff Brito’s murder was the result of a long standing grudge.
Brito was first elected sheriff on November 2, 1880 and served until November 4, 1890 when he was defeated in a hotly contested election by Matthew L. Browne. Brito was then appointed Brownsville City Marshal on December 1, 1890. When Sheriff Browne accidentally shot and killed himself on April 12, 1892, the Cameron County Commissioners' Court appointed Brito as sheriff to fill the unexpired term of Browne.
Before being elected sheriff, he was the owner of El Democrata, a Spanish-language newspaper in Brownsville, Texas. He was probably born in the Rio Grande Valley. Brito was married and was the father of 5 children.
Your assailant(s) surely faced a higher authority and justice at some point in a very different place. Rest in peace knowing that no passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) August 21st, 2020
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Brito gave the Cameron County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Olmito community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Santiago A. Brito 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 Sheriff's Office, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Santiago A. Brito's cause is highlighted.
How Santiago A. Brito Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Santiago A. Brito is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Santiago A. Brito was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cameron County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
