William S. Brazil
Agency patch
City Marshal

William S. Brazil

Okolona Police Department — Okolona, MS
Felonious
End of Watch September 28, 1912
Age 50
The Vigil Panel 27 ›
Gender Male

Incident

City Marshal Will Brazil was shot and killed on Main Street while he and a county constable attempted to arrest two drunk men who were acting disorderly.

As one of the men reached for his pistol, the constable attempted to strike him with a stick but was prevented by the other subject. The armed man then fatally shot Marshal Brazil and wounded the constable.

Both men fled town but were arrested within a few days.

Marshal Brazil served with the Okolona Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-B1850AAA
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.
City Marshal Brazil served with the Okolona Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Okolona community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Brazil.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Okolona, Chickasaw County, MS
Platform Identity opd.chickasaw.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 28, 1912
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

City Marshal William S. Brazil 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 MS, 243 of 350 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this state's fallen. That is 69.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Okolona Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Okolona Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
MS — Statewide
243
of 350 officers
69.4% 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. William S. Brazil's cause is highlighted.

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

How William S. Brazil Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William S. Brazil 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.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Okolona Police Department are honored on badge.nw.