Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Burton Brewer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just killed Marshal Thomas Adkins of the Dewar Police Department and Auxiliary Officer Walter Hembree of the Henryetta Police Department. The suspect was then shot and wounded by the chief of the Morris Police Department. The 20-year-old suspect was convicted of two counts of capital murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later overturned, and he was then sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in June of 2016. As of October 22, 2022, he was in prison. Deputy Brewer was a United States National Guard and Army WWII veteran who retired from the Okmulgee Fire Department after 21 years of service. He then became a private detective in Tulsa for a time before joining the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Department, where he served with the agency for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-F0048BB0- 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 Sheriff Brewer gave the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Okmulgee 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
Burton Lee Brewer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Burton Lee Brewer 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Burton Lee Brewer's cause is highlighted.
How Burton Lee Brewer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Burton Lee Brewer is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Burton Lee Brewer was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
