Homestead Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Monday, March 17, 1952
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 17, 1952
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 99 years
Chief of Police Frank Brantley was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man shortly after midnight.
The man had just shot and critically wounded another person in a bar as they were having a drinking contest. He was shot after finding the man behind a house at 105 SE 2nd Avenue.
The 27-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder on April 25th, 1952, and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He escaped in 1958 and again in 1960 but was quickly captured. He got 6 years added to his life sentence for escape.
Chief Brantley was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and had served in law enforcement for 17 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.