Incident
Sheriff Matthew Browne was accidentally shot and killed while he and other deputies transported several Mexican prisoners from Brownsville to Corpus Christi.
The deputies stopped the wagon for lunch at approximately 1600 hours and as Sheriff Browne sat down, he moved his pistol and it discharged. The round struck him in the leg, just above the knee, and severed a major artery. Sheriff Browne bled to death in a matter of minutes.
The deputies took his body back to Brownsville where he was buried.
Sheriff Browne had served as sheriff for approximately 18 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, father, sister, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Browne gave the Cameron County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Olmito community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Cameron County Sheriff's Office has lost 13 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Matthew is one of 657 officers lost to accidents in TX, 27.1% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1892, 2 officers in TX were lost to accidents, the 97th heaviest of 136 years on record. The heaviest was 1994, with 14.
In 1892, 7 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 139th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1892, 15 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 139th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Matthew was 37. Of the 626 lost to accidents in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 46; the middle age was 36. Matthew had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Matthew was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Matthew had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Matthew was 37. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Matthew had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 8.1% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 11.7%. Mondays: 12.8%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 7.7% of all 13 deaths at Cameron County Sheriff's Office, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 27.1% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Cameron County Sheriff's Office has 13 officers remembered here, Matthew among them.
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Robert L. Johnson Sep 28, 1859
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Matthew L. Browne Apr 11, 1892
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Santiago A. Brito Aug 21, 1892
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Samuel Cobb Apr 5, 1898
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Henry B. Lawrence Jul 31, 1910
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Encarnacion Cuellar Jul 12, 1915
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Frank Martin, Sr. Nov 25, 1917
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George Ramsey Carpenter Jun 3, 1922
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Andres Reyes Jun 3, 1922
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Lee Dicken Jun 1, 1926
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William Horace Johnson
Jun 9, 1928
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Louis Mackey Chaudoin Feb 19, 1936
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Albert Kingsley Parker
Oct 14, 1945
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cameron County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.

