Melvin Brackman
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Melvin Brackman

Miller County Sheriff's Office — Texarkana, AR
Felonious
End of Watch October 19, 1932
The Vigil Panel 65 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Melvin Brackman and Deputy J.C. Crain were shot and killed in an ambush while attempting to arrest a bootlegger. The ambush occurred at the intersection of two rural county roads in southern Miller County.

The suspect was later apprehended. The suspect was convicted of one count of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled on July 5, 1937.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-722A32D3
Stewardship
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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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Brackman served with the Miller County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Texarkana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Brackman.

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

Agency

Location Texarkana, AR
Platform Identity mcso.miller.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 19, 1932
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Paroled in 1937

Deputy Sheriff Melvin Brackman 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Miller County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.

Miller County Sheriff's Office
9
of 11 officers
81.8% Felonious
AR — Statewide
249
of 372 officers
66.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin Brackman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Melvin Brackman Compares

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1937

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin Brackman is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melvin Brackman was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518