Stephen Anthony Breland
Deputy Sheriff

Stephen Anthony Breland

Felonious
End of Watch September 19, 1977
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge J10
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Tony Breland was shot and killed while he and other deputies attempted to serve a warrant at a home at 105 Lewis Street in Walterboro. Two other deputies were attempting to arrest the man on a warrant for brandishing a firearm. The man refused to come out of the home and told the deputies he would shoot them if they came inside. As one of the deputies opened the screen door the man shot him in the chest. The deputies requested backup and Deputy Breland responded to assist. He was attempting to climb through a window into the home when the man shot him. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The subject who shot him was found guilty of manslaughter and died while in prison. Deputy Breland had served with the Colleton County Sheriff's Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, brother, sister, and grandmother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-0A5BA2A0
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Breland gave the Colleton County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Walterboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Breland.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Walterboro, Colleton County, SC
Platform Identity ccso.colleton.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 19, 1977
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 26
Badge Number J10
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff Stephen Anthony Breland 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Colleton County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Colleton County Sheriff's Department
2
of 4 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% 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. Stephen Anthony Breland's cause is highlighted.

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

How Stephen Anthony Breland Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen Anthony Breland is highlighted in Sep.

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. Stephen Anthony Breland was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location