Incoming Police Chief Brown Honored for Work with Victims of Domestic Violence

New Darien Police Chief Ernest Brown will be retiring from the Chicago Police Department this week on a high note.

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez recognized Brown Oct. 18 with her office’s annual Outstanding Law Enforcement Award. 

During a luncheon at Maggiano’s in Chicago, Brown was honored for his work with victims of domestic violence.

Brown officially assumes his role with the on Tuesday. He was not immediately available for comment about the award. 

Also recognized at the event were Trinidad Birrutea from Connections for Abused Women and their Children, who received the Outstanding Advocate Award, and Sarah McClarey, who received the Courage Award.

Jennifer Greene, violence against women policy advisor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, gave the following remarks:

Chief Ernest Brown has been a Chicago police officer for 29 years and has accomplished many things during his tenure. However, as you look over the career of Chief Brown, you will see a continuous commitment to working with community partners to best respond to the realities of domestic violence throughout the Chicago community. 

As commander of public housing, he mandated a specialized response to victims of domestic violence that took into account the rules and regulations of being a public housing tenant. 

As commander of the 3rd district, he was an ardent support of Family Rescue’s Domestic Violence Reduction Unit. It is the only collaboration of its kind in the city, and Chief Brown worked closely with staff to ensure that the officers working in that district were responding to domestic violence calls in an informed and appropriate manner. He dedicated a team of officers to work with the unit on a daily basis and advocated strongly for the unit to remain in the 3rd district. 

As he continued his career and moved to chief of the organized crime division, his commitment to holding domestic abusers accountable did not cease. He worked closely with the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network and the CCSAO to address gang members who were also domestic violence offenders. He developed a process where high risk offenders were quickly brought into custody by gang teams throughout the city.

In his current role, he is again working with the network to implement a training program for all sergeants in the department. This one day training is aimed at improving the response on the scene to domestic violence calls for service. And, with retirement less than a month away, he is working furiously to finalize a specialized protocol to reduce the number of domestic related homicides in the City of Chicago. He has been working on this project with the Department of Family and Support Services and the CCSAO, and believe me when I tell you, he is going to get it done or wear us all out trying!