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The National Policing Institute (NPI) will be honoring former Houston Mayor and Chief of Police, Lee P. Brown, with the Hubert Williams Equal Justice and Effective Policing Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes Brown's advocacy for fairness, equal justice, and civil rights during his tenure as the New York City Police Commissioner. NPI President Jim Burch commended Brown for his exceptional contributions in initiating positive changes in policing, promoting diversity in law enforcement, and addressing concerns of bias.
Born in Wewoka, Oklahoma, Brown has dedicated over 60 years of his life to public service. He began his career in law enforcement as a police officer in San Jose, California, in 1960. After 15 years, he was appointed as the head of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in Oregon. In 1978, Brown moved to Atlanta to serve as the public safety commissioner. However, his most notable role was as the Chief of Police in Houston from 1982 to 1990, where he made significant contributions to the city's police department.
In addition to his achievements in law enforcement, Brown served in the Clinton administration as the White House Office of National Drug Policy, commonly known as the "Drug Czar," from 1993 to 1996. He later returned to Houston and was elected as the city's first Black mayor in 1997. Brown's educational background includes a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, a master's degree from San Jose State University, and a bachelor's degree from Fresno State University.
The award ceremony will take place in October during a closed reception in San Diego. Brown will be joined by former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, who will receive the Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy Award in 2023. The NPI's National Awards Program aims to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of policing and have worked towards achieving equal justice and effective policing.
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- Per NPI’s biography on Brown, he crafted a career in public service that lasted at least 60 years.
His foray into law enforcement began when he took a job as a police office in San Jose, CA, in 1960, and 15 years later, he was hired to lead the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) in Oregon.
Brown then moved eastward in 1978 to Atlanta where he served as the Georgia state capital’s public safety commissioner.
- His biography furthered stated that Brown was Houston Chief of Police from 1982 to 1990, when the nation’s largest city hired him to helm its police department.
Brown served in the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1996 as the White House Office of National Drug Policy, a position colloquially known as the “Drug Czar.”
After nearly half a decade in Washington, D.C., Brown returned to Houston where he was elected the city’s first Black mayor in 1997, NPI said.
- The biography said that Brown holds a doctorate from University of California, Berkeley; a master’s degree from San Jose State University (SJSU); and a bachelor’s degree from Fresno State University.
Per NPI, Brown will be joined at its event next month by former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, the non-profit organization’s 2023 recipient of the Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy Award.
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