Derwin Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Derwin Brown
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| Born | June 22, 1954 Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Died | December 15, 2000 (aged 46) Decatur, Georgia, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Shooting |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Law enforcement officer, politician |
| Years active | 1977–2000 |
| Spouse(s) |
Phyllis Brown
(died 2006) |
| Children | Brandy Brown-Rhodes, Robert Brown, Michael Brown, Maurice Douglas (died January 6, 2012), and Marlon Robinson |
Derwin Brown (June 22, 1954 – December 15, 2000) was an American police officer. He was elected to be the new sheriff of DeKalb County, Georgia. Sadly, he was killed in December 2000, just before he was supposed to start his new job.
Early Life and Education
Derwin Brown grew up in Long Island, New York. He was the first child of Burvena and George Robert Brown. He went to Woodfield Road School and Malverne Jr. High School. He also attended Malverne High School.
A Career in Public Service
Derwin Brown began his career helping young people. He worked as a youth counselor for teens who were having difficulties. Soon after, he became one of the first Black patrol officers in DeKalb County.
He also shared his thoughts with the community. He hosted a local TV show called "The Naked Truth." He also wrote a newspaper column called "Tell It Like It Is." This column appeared in the local Champion News Paper.
Brown worked for the DeKalb County Police Department for 23 years. He was a very experienced officer. When he ran for sheriff, he promised to make the office more honest. He wanted to fix any problems with fairness or trust. People believed in his promise and elected him.
A Tragic Event
On December 15, 2000, Derwin Brown was killed. This happened just three days before he was going to become sheriff. Because of this, another leader, Thomas Brown, took over as sheriff temporarily. A special election was held a few months later to choose a new sheriff.
Later, it was found that the previous sheriff, Sidney Dorsey, was involved. Prosecutors said that Dorsey had ordered Brown's killing. This was because Brown was expected to investigate problems from Dorsey's time as sheriff.
Derwin Brown's family later took legal action against those involved. A court decided that the people responsible had to pay the family a large amount of money. However, collecting this money became very difficult due to legal challenges.
Derwin Brown's Legacy
Derwin Brown had five children and twelve grandchildren with his wife, Phyllis Brown. Phyllis sadly passed away in 2006. This was nine days after she led a special event to remember her husband.
Derwin Brown was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was also part of Freemasonry. A Masonic Lodge was named in his honor, called the Derwin Brown Masonic Lodge #599 PHA.
His story has been featured on TV shows. These include "Fatal Encounters" and "Deadly Power." These shows shared the details of his life and the events surrounding his death.
To honor Derwin Brown, the county named a police station after him. This precinct is located near South Dekalb Mall. Also, a street called Glasgow Drive was renamed "Derwin Brown Drive." These actions help remember his service and sacrifice.
