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Incident
Trooper Brown was shot and killed while he and another officer were transferring prisoners from one location to another. As they were logging the prisoners in, one of the men grabbed the other officer's service weapon. As Trooper Brown attempted to subdue the man he was shot. The suspect was eventually apprehended and is currently incarcerated at the West Virginia Penitentiary Mt.
Survivors
Olive, sentenced to life without parole Trooper Brown was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Brown served with the West Virginia State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
West Virginia State Police has lost 42 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
Bruce is one of 169 officers killed feloniously in WV, 72.8% of the 232 remembered there.
Bruce is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Bruce is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1977, 3 officers at West Virginia State Police were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1977, 5 officers in WV were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 79 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 8.
In 1977, 128 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 36th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1977, 146 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 34th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Bruce was 25. Of the 19 killed feloniously at West Virginia State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 36.5; the middle age was 31.
Bruce was 25. Of the 147 killed feloniously in WV whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 47.5; the middle age was 39.
Bruce was 25. 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.
Bruce was 25. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
October holds 9.5% of these deaths at West Virginia State Police; June holds the most, 19%. Fridays: 23.8%.
October holds 7.1% of these deaths in WV; August holds the most, 14.2%. Fridays: 14.2%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 42 deaths at West Virginia State Police, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 72.8% of all 232 deaths in WV, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 8.3% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
West Virginia State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Bruce among them.
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Ernest Lee Ripley
Nov 18, 1920
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Charles M. Kackley
May 25, 1921
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William Lee McMillion
Jun 28, 1921
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George Albert Duling
Aug 28, 1921
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Howard Addison Deem
Jun 3, 1922
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James Blaine Shrewsbury
Jul 16, 1923
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Ulric Linton Crawford
Jun 20, 1924
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Theodore R. Meadows
Apr 17, 1926
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James Lewis Lowe
Jun 28, 1926
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Blake Allison Michael
May 1, 1927
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Arza A. Allen
Nov 1, 1928
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William Hall
Oct 18, 1930
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Farley K. Litton
Nov 8, 1935
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Allen Henry Bennett Jeffreys
Jul 16, 1939
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Franklin D. Patrick
Aug 27, 1939
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Newton Tressel Sites
Sep 2, 1942
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Burr White Harrison
Dec 3, 1945
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Joseph Pierce Horne
Sep 9, 1946
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Arthur M. Hurst
Jun 17, 1949
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Robert F. Rulong
Feb 10, 1958
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Harry E. Robinson
Nov 27, 1962
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William Joseph Shrewsbury
Sep 28, 1963
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Robert Ball Noechel
Nov 1, 1965
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Hugh Donald Swartz
Oct 5, 1970
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Thomas Dean Hercules
Jan 12, 1977
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Charles Henry Johnson
Jan 12, 1977
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Bruce Thompson Brown
Oct 14, 1977
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Dewey Colen Shrewsbury
Oct 25, 1978
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Philip S. Kesner
Nov 7, 1979
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Carlen Bill Stone
Dec 16, 1982
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Harry G. Lucas, Jr.
Sep 12, 1984
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Jonathan David Harris
Jul 11, 1985
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William Howard Phillips
Jul 30, 1987
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James Thomas Brammer
Apr 15, 1989
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Larry Gene Hacker
Apr 9, 1993
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Charles Matthew Turner
Apr 4, 1996
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Douglas Wayne Bland
Jan 19, 1999
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Brian William Linn
Nov 3, 2007
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Marshall Lee Bailey
Aug 28, 2012
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Eric Michael Workman
Aug 31, 2012
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Joseph George Portaro
Mar 14, 2016
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Cory Maynard
Jun 2, 2023
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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