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Incident
Corporal Rufus Brown succumbed to injuries received four years earlier when he was beaten by a drunk male during the city's Mardi Gras celebration on February 23rd, 1993.
He had responded to a call of the male creating a disturbance at the intersection of Government Street and South Dearborn Street. While on the scene the male beat Corporal Brown's head against a cement curb in the street. The injuries caused Corporal Brown to begin suffering seizures, forcing him to retire in 1993.
On March 23rd, 1997, Corporal Brown suffered a grand mal seizure and died as a result. The seizures were determined to be a direct result of the assault in 1993.
Corporal Brown had been employed with the Mobile Police Department for 26 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
26 years. You could have gone home.
Corporal Brown gave the Mobile Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Mobile community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Mobile Police Department has lost 23 officers; 18 of them killed feloniously.
Rufus is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
Rufus is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Rufus is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1997, 1 officer at Mobile Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1997, 4 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1997, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Rufus was 53. Of the 17 killed feloniously at Mobile Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 50; the middle age was 36. Rufus had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Rufus was 53. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40. Rufus had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Rufus was 53. 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. Rufus had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Rufus was 53. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Rufus had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 5.6% of these deaths at Mobile Police Department; June holds the most, 22.2%. Sundays: 16.7%.
March holds 4.7% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Sundays: 15.6%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 78.3% of all 23 deaths at Mobile Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 5.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63% of all 643 deaths in AL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 0.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
Mobile Police Department has 23 officers remembered here, Rufus among them.
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James Phillips Jul 12, 1864
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Jeremiah Lynch Jun 3, 1872
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Edward McGrath Morris
Apr 1, 1901
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Charles Haggerty
Dec 30, 1903
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James J. Shaw
Dec 21, 1924
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Christopher M. Dean
Jan 22, 1926
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William Murphy
Oct 18, 1929
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Edward DeFord
Oct 31, 1935
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Cody Bettis
Aug 3, 1938
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Ollie Mason
Jun 15, 1943
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Pierce Lee Reeves
Sep 24, 1944
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Earl Royce Williams
Jun 24, 1968
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Joseph Pickens Brunson, Jr.
May 15, 1975
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Henry Johnny Booth
Aug 14, 1979
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Julius Norman Schulte
Apr 24, 1985
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Douglas Emil Kountz, Jr.
May 2, 1992
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Owen Patrick McClinton
Dec 13, 1996
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Rufus Earle Brown
Mar 23, 1997
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Matthew Alan Thompson
Feb 12, 2004
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Brandon Nykori Sigler
Jun 2, 2009
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Steven Caserlos Dion Green, Sr.
Feb 3, 2012
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Justin Taylor Billa
Feb 20, 2018
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Sean Paul Tuder
Jan 20, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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