William Brady

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office — Carrizozo, NM

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 1, 1878

Age 48

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Sheriff William Brady and Deputy George Hindman were shot and killed by the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid and his gang as they walked down the street in front of the county courthouse. Billy the Kid, along with 5 members of his gang who were hiding behind an adobe wall across the street, ambushed Brady and four of his deputies on the main street of Lincoln. The outlaw gang was responsible for the murders of several other law enforcement officers over the course of several years. It was for the murder of Brady that Billy the Kid was convicted by a territorial court in April 1881, and sentenced to death, a conviction that led to his escape from the Lincoln County jail and his subsequent killing by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Sheriff Brady, who served with the U.S. Army for 15 years including his tenure in the 1st New Mexico Cavalry, was survived by his wife and six children. He served as Lincoln County Sheriff for five years. He is buried with Deputy Hindman on private property on what was Sheriff Brady's ranch east of Lincoln, New Mexico at the Brady-Hindman burial site.

Survivors

Army for 15 years including his tenure in the 1st New Mexico Cavalry, was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-9A1999D3
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sheriff Brady gave the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carrizozo community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Location Carrizozo, NM

Platform Identity lcso.lincoln.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 1, 1878

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

William Brady served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sheriff William Brady 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 88.9% of this agency's fallen.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

of 9 officers

88.9% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious