Roll of Honor
William Franklin Brantley
Incident
Chief of Police Frank Brantley was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man shortly after midnight. The man had just shot and critically wounded another person in a bar as they were having a drinking contest. He was shot after finding the man behind a house at 105 SE 2nd Avenue. The 27-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder on April 25th, 1952, and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He escaped in 1958 and again in 1960 but was quickly captured. He got 6 years added to his life sentence for escape. Chief Brantley was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and had served in law enforcement for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-85661DEC- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.
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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.
Chief of Police Brantley gave the Homestead Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Homestead 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Franklin Brantley served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Chief of Police William Franklin Brantley 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Homestead Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Franklin Brantley's cause is highlighted.
How William Franklin Brantley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Franklin Brantley is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Franklin Brantley was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
William Franklin Brantley served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Franklin Brantley’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Homestead Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
