The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
NEXT ADVENTURES
Police sergeant gets community sendoff on retirement during coronavirus pandemic
Sgt. Bob Brown of the Lorain Police Department got a special sendoff on May 4 after more than 26 years of serving the community.
Not being able to have a typical retirement party with friends and family, Brown was treated to an escort home from Operation Open Heart members.
There dozens of his neighbors, friends and family were waiting to thank him for his decades of service to the community.
“I knew my wife was planning something but I just thought it was going to be a couple of friends driving by or something. I’ve never had anything like this. I’ve never had a surprise party and I’m kind of speechless,” Brown said.
“I was very shocked at how many people. It’s something else. I’m humbled.”
— Lorain Police Sgt. Bob Brown, retired
Surprising Brown at the Lorain Police Department, at least 20 vehicles from departments around Lorain County gave him a sendoff, driving through Lorain with sirens blazing to his west Lorain home.
“I was very shocked at how many people. It’s something else. I’m humbled. I didn’t realize I had this kind of friendship within the community,” he added.
As president of Operation Open Heart, Brown has played a big role in helping Lorain County children overcome adversity.
Brown has volunteered with Operation Open Heart for more than 20 years. The organization, founded in 1962, is comprised of current and retired volunteers from police, fire and EMS services throughout the county and neighboring departments who take children involved with Children
Services on a weeklong camping trip to provide mentoring.
Brown’s career started shortly after earning an associate’s degree in applied
police science from Lorain County Community College. In 1992 he started his law enforcement career with the Vermilion Police Department as a part-time officer where he worked for a year and a half, during which time he also worked as Metro Park ranger.
In September of 1993 Brown joined the Lorain Police Department as a fulltime patrol officer.
He would become a field training officer after about five years of patrol, and in 2001 he was promoted to sergeant where his roles included road patrol supervisor, jail administrator, traffic commissioner and 10plus years as a crisis team commander and hostage negotiator.
He has also been the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 trustee, secretary and vice president.