Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Alabama Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Not available
Special Officer William Brown was shot and killed by a man he had just arrested for stealing brass from a railroad car in Birmingham, Alabama.
After being arrested, the subject asked Officer Brown if he could go to his home to retrieve clothing before going to jail. Officer Brown honored the request and escorted the man to his home. Once inside the home the man attempted to escape but was stopped by Officer Brown. As Officer Brown started escorting him from the home the man grabbed his service revolver and shot him in the head before fleeing.
Officer Brown was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Officer Brown was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-D5FE9CDC- 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.
Special Officer Brown served with the Southern Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer William Arthur 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. William Arthur Brown's cause is highlighted.
How William Arthur Brown Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Arthur Brown is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Arthur Brown was killed by officer's 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.
