DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch Saturday, December 16, 2000
Add to My HeroesDerwin Brown
Sheriff-elect Brown was shot and killed in an ambush style attack organized by the incumbent sheriff he had beaten in the recent election.
The sheriff-elect had just returned home from a celebration with family and friends, when he was shot 11 times while in his front yard. Sheriff-elect Brown had vowed to end corruption in the sheriff's department during his campaign for sheriff. After a long investigation by state and federal law enforcement agencies, three suspects were arrested, including the former sheriff, and a former sheriff's deputy. The former sheriff was later convicted of arranging the murder as well as multiple counts of theft and racketeering. As of October 21, 2023, the former sheriff, now 83, was in prison.
Sheriff-elect Brown had been with the DeKalb County Department of Public Safety for 22 years, and was scheduled to be sworn in as Sheriff three days after his death. He is survived by his wife and five children and is buried in Dawn Memorial Park, Decatur, Dekalb County, Georgia.
Bio
- Age 46
- Tour 23 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Friday, December 15, 2000
- Weapon Handgun; Tech-9
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 51 ReflectionsSheriff Brown,
You were one of my instructors in the Dekalb County police academy in 1986. I Just found out about your tragic death today. I was heart broken! I remember you as a very intelligent, knowledgeable and caring person and excellent instructor. You were a great inspiration to me. May you RIP!
Ivanhoe Miller (FMR. Dekalb Co. (P.O)
June 6, 2020
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