Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Jesse R. Browning

Boone County Sheriff's Office — Madison, WV

Felonious

End of Watch April 15, 1917

Age 39

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 32 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Jesse Browning succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained one week earlier during an escape attempt from the county jail.

An inmate in the jail attacked Deputy Browning and was able to gain control of his service weapon. The man then shot him, fatally wounding him.

Deputy Browning had served with the Boone County Sheriff's Office for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-63EC2C37
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.
Deputy Sheriff Browning gave the Boone County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Madison community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Browning.

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

Agency

Department Boone County Sheriff's Office

Location Madison, WV

Platform Identity bcso.boone.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1917

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff Jesse R. Browning 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Boone County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% 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. Jesse R. Browning'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 Jesse R. Browning 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

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse R. Browning is highlighted in Apr.

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. Jesse R. Browning was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518