Roll of Honor
Thomas L. Brayton
Incident
Location: South Carolina Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available
Deputy Collector Thomas Brayton was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man while raiding a still near Central, South Carolina.
The raiding party had located the still shortly before dawn, and then went to the man's home nearby to arrest him. When they arrived the man informed them that if he were going to have to go to Greensville, he would get eat breakfast and get ready first.
As the officers waited for the man to finish his breakfast, the man's wife started creating a disturbance. Deputy Collector Brayton, who had been waiting outside, told the man he must come out and started walking towards the house when he was shot in the chest without warning. The occupants of the house continued firing at the other officers as they retreated from the scene.
The subject who shot Deputy Collector Brayton fled the area. It is not known if he was ever captured.
Deputy Collector Brayton was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and had served with the Office of Internal Revenue for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-4D7E7F72- 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.
Deputy Collector Brayton gave the United States Department of the Treasury 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas L. Brayton served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Collector Thomas L. Brayton 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas L. Brayton's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas L. Brayton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas L. Brayton is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas L. Brayton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
