Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Melvin Collins was shot and killed when he intervened in a robbery while working an off-duty job at a grocery store at 3915 Darien Highway.
Two men came into the store and attempted to rob it. When one of the suspects fired two shots past a female clerk's head, Officer Collins identified himself as a police officer and exchanged shots with the two suspects.
Although mortally wounded, Officer Collins struck one of the suspects in the hand and was able to subdue him with the help of two off-duty U.S. Marshals who were also in the store. The second suspect fled into a nearby marsh where he was apprehended the following day. The suspect was convicted of murdering Officer Collins in 2003 in Brunswick, Georgia and received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Officer Collins had just graduated from the academy and was to have his ceremonial swearing-in on the following Monday, three days after he was killed.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-83B66306- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Collins served with the Brunswick Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Brunswick community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Collins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Melvin Earl Collins 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Brunswick Police Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin Earl Collins's cause is highlighted.
How Melvin Earl Collins Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin Earl Collins is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melvin Earl Collins was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Brunswick Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
