Columbus City Councilmember
Mitchell J. Brown has a strong safety background and plans to use his knowledge
and experience to continue making Columbus a great place to live. He chairs the
Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs committees.
Brown began his career as a
paramedic. In the late 60’s, 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 Ohio 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, and Division
of Support Services.
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.