In the quiet of a late spring evening on Sunday, May 25, 1986, the life of Deputy Sheriff Leonard Wilbur Brand of the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Department was tragically cut short. The 50-year-old male officer, a veteran of the United States Army, was responding to a domestic disturbance call, a situation law enforcement officers often face with a heightened sense of caution due to their unpredictable nature.
The call came in at approximately 5:15 p.m., directing Deputy Brand and the
New Site Chief of Police to a residence on Alabama Highway 49, just a couple of miles north of New Site. As the two officers arrived and stepped out of their patrol car, they were met with a sudden and violent eruption of gunfire. A man at the home opened fire on them without warning, leaving them with little time to react or seek substantial cover.
In the ensuing moments, Deputy Brand was struck by the gunfire and sustained mortal wounds. Despite the immediate danger, his partner, the New Site Chief, also took fire but was fortunate to survive his injuries. The gunman, having committed this violent act against the responding officers, later took his own life. Deputy Brand was survived by his wife and child, his ultimate sacrifice leaving a profound void in his family and the community he served.
