Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 4024 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: AUGUST 2016 They eventually found Brown in the hospital where he had gone to be treated for hypothermia. Brown was not only an NYPD detective with a sto- ried career, he also served with the legendary military unit the Harlem Hellfight- ers. According to Wikipedia, “The Harlem Hellfighters was an African-American infantry unit in WWII who spent more time in combat than any other American unit. “Despite their courage, sacrifice and dedication to their country, they returned home to face racism and segregation from their fel- low countrymen.” The prospect of dying alone in the hospital after nearly freezing to death just didn’t seem right to the younger cops – especially when we’re talking about a war hero and a man who devoted his life to public service. So the officers from the “1-3-3” as it’s known around town, decided to do what they could. “They went to the home and found out his oil burner was out,” said Deputy In- spector Frederick Grover, commanding officer of the precinct. “His personal life wasn’t really in order. They helped him with his benefits, and got him properly registered with the VA. They helped him get to doctor’s ap- pointments.” DetectiveTan- ya Duhaney, a community af- fairs officer with the precinct, vis- ited him almost every Sunday. Brown still kept memorabilia from his time as a cop. When Brown d i e d a f e w months back of heart ail- ments, Duhaney followed up with the city Medical Examiner two weeks later. She learned that no one had claimed his body and there was no surviving next of kin, Gro- ver said. He was slated to be buried in an unmarked grave on Hart Island, the city’s potter’s field. Inspector Grover and his fellow officers decided that just wasn’t acceptable. The precinct made ar- rangements to claim the body and hold a funeral service. Brown was buried at the Long Island National Cem- etery in Farmingdale. Duhaney said Brown had a typically mischievous sense of cop humor. She remembered one time when she took Brown for a doctor’s appointment. Duhaney was driving Brown, and he jumped out so fast at the office she got nervous and jumped out of the vehicle too. But she locked her keys in the car in the process. “I was saying ‘I’m dead, I locked the keys in the car,’” she explained. His career was an im- pressive one. He received commendations for rescu- ing a woman and her child from a burning building in 1960, busting a man with a load- ed gun in 1962, and arresting a burglar armed with a knife in 1964. A real-deal street cop and dedicated public servant that was also a war hero deserves to be buried with respect. And respect is due to the men and women at 113th precinct and the PBA of New York City that made that possible. Continued from page one Sgt. Tanya Duhaney (right) of the 113th Precinct is a com- munity affairs officer. She vistied Brown (center) almost every Sunday. William Brown, a war hero and career public servant, was slated to be buried in an unmarked grave on Hart Island, the city’s potter’s field. Det. William Brown had a storied career with the New York City Police Depart- ment. Members of the Fightin’ 369th Infantry Regiment Members of the Fightin’ 369th Infantry Regiment From the 369th to the 113th, a hero all the way Officers step up big to make sure one of their own is remembered  .  .    .  .  .   (((##)# ...,...'. .+ ..  This is the story of one man’s quiet, courageous leadership in helping to transform police and community relations. r Dr. Cedric L. Alexande Public Safety Director a DeKalb County, Georgia