Brown began his career as a paramedic. In the late 60s, he championed a radical
emergency medical response protocol designed to provide pre-hospital emergency
care to residents in Pittsburgh, PA.
This effort sparked a medical revolution. The experiment known as “Freedom House,” was
the beginning of today’s modern paramedic and ambulance response system.
A decade later, he took that same passion and commitment to
excellence to Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as the Commissioner for
Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Public Safety. There, Brown developed and implemented the
Paramedic Training Institute and created the Advanced Life Support
Program. Brown became the City of
Cleveland’s Director of the Department of Public Safety in 1986 and instituted
a plethora of initiatives that enhanced the quality of life for residents.
Public service is ingrained in Brown, from leading St.
Vincent Charity Hospital Health Center department of Surgery Division of Trauma
as the Administrative Director to becoming Registrar for the Bureau of Motor
Vehicles and then the Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the
former United States Air Force serviceman has diligently and passionately
protected and served citizens throughout the nation for more than 40 years.
Brown was appointed Director of the City of Columbus
Department of Public Safety in April 2000 where he oversaw the operation of the
Division of Police, Division of Fire, Division of Support Services and the
License and Weights and Measures sections.
Under his direction, Public Safety thrived. The Division of
Fire obtained accreditation status, the training academy was built, seven fire
stations were constructed and emergency medical delivery to residents was redesigned.
This effort placed a medic at each station. He oversaw the purchase of 201 fire
apparatus, obtained $34 million in homeland security grants, implemented an
emergency medical billing structure that generated over $100 million in revenue
for the city and appointed the city’s first African-American Fire Chief.
Councilmember Brown resides on the Far East Side with his wife
Rebecca. The two have one daughter, Lindsay.