Prev Next
Joseph Turner Brown
Agency patch
U.S. Customs Inspector

Joseph Turner Brown

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch April 9, 1940
Age 42
The Vigil Panel 166 · Column 3 · Line 16 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Inspector Joseph Brown succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered on April 2nd, 1940, near Sebastian, Cameron County, Texas, when he and his partner confronted two suspected bootleggers. The officers stopped the suspects' vehicle on County Line Road five miles west of Sebastian at 12:30 am. One of the men opened fire and wounded both officers. The officers returned fire and wounded one of the men. The other subject fled the scene but was later arrested. Both men were charged with murder. His partner suffered minor wounds to his hip and scalp. Twenty gallons of contraband liquor were found inside of the car they had stopped. Inspector Brown succumbed to his wounds on April 9th, 1940. On June 4, 1940, one suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years. The other was acquitted. Inspector Brown was survived by his wife and four children. He was buried in Denton, Texas.

Survivors

Inspector Brown was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmpbbywpvg21455y78br
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
U.S. Customs Inspector Brown served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, U.S. Customs Inspector Brown.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 9, 1940
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1940, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 42. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service has 94 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

U.S. Customs Inspector Joseph Turner Brown

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch April 9, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E

↑