Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Bill Brunt

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office — Rusk, TX

Felonious

End of Watch August 3, 1939

Age 28

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo

The Vigil Panel 76 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sheriff Brunt was shot and killed after stopping a car he suspected of transporting beer through the county. As he approached the car the male driver opened fire, striking him in the chest. Although mortally wounded, Sheriff Brunt was able to return fire, killing the driver and wounding the female passenger.

Survivors

Sheriff Brunt had been with the agency for 20 months and was survived by his wife, who was appointed to complete his term in office.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-16FA071B
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

You barely got started.
Sheriff Brunt gave the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Rusk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Brunt.

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

Agency

Department Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

Location Rusk, TX

Platform Identity ccso.cherokee.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1939

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Sheriff Bill Brunt 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% 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. Bill Brunt'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 Bill Brunt Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

1.6

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bill Brunt is highlighted in Aug.

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. Bill Brunt was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Cherokee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.