Roll of Honor
Wilbur McKinley Brown
Incident
Location: North Carolina Incident Date: Wednesday, December 10, 1930 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Shot and killed
Railroad Detective Wilbur "Bill" Brown succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained five days earlier while patrolling the Southern Railway yards in Greensboro, North Carolina.
He and another railroad detective were checking a freight train in the yards when they encountered three men inside a boxcar. One of the men immediately opened fire as Detective Brown opened the door, striking him. Despite the wound, Detective Brown was able to return fire and killed one of the subjects.
The other two subjects were eventually apprehended and both were subsequently convicted of Detective Brown's murder. One of them was sentenced to 30 years in prison and the second was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Det. Brown, On today, the 90th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army in Europe fighting the Germans during WW I as a member of the 30th “Old Hickory” Division.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol December 15th, 2020
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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 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.
Railroad Detective Brown served with the Southern Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington 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
Wilbur McKinley Brown served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Railroad Detective Wilbur McKinley 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 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 Southern Railway Police Department, 17 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 94.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wilbur McKinley Brown's cause is highlighted.
How Wilbur McKinley Brown Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wilbur McKinley Brown is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wilbur McKinley Brown was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Southern Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
