Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Harvey K. Brown

Baker County Sheriff's Department — Baker City, OR

Felonious

End of Watch October 1, 1907

Age 36

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sheriff Harvey Brown was killed when a bomb that was rigged to his front door exploded when he returned home at 2223 Fourth Street in Baker City at 10:30 p.m. He was transported to St Elizabeth Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the next day at 3:15 p.m. Sheriff Brown had served as sheriff of the Baker County Sheriff's Department from 1902 to 1906. Although his murder has never been officially solved, one of the prevailing theories is that he was assassinated as a result of his role in the arrest and prosecution of a man who, on December 30, 1905, killed the former governor of Idaho with a bomb. Another theory is that he was killed for revenge by local gamblers as a result of his efforts to stop illegal gambling while serving as sheriff.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OR-3D1AAE4D
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.
Sheriff Brown gave the Baker County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baker City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Brown.

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

Agency

Department Baker County Sheriff's Department

Location Baker City, OR

Platform Identity bcso.baker.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1907

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Explosives; Bomb

Offender Never solved

Sheriff Harvey K. Brown 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Baker County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

OR — Statewide

115

of 197 officers

58.4% 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. Harvey K. Brown'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 Harvey K. Brown Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Never solved

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harvey K. Brown 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. Harvey K. Brown was killed by explosives; bomb.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518