Memorial services were held Saturday honor of fallen Tohono O’odham police officer Bryan Brown with friends, family and colleagues remembering him as a man deeply committed to his family and the community he served. 

Brown was killed in the line of duty on Aug. 27 after attempting to make an arrest in Why, a community west of Tucson. He was with the department for 19 years. 

“His impact on the nation was truly extraordinary,” said Ned Norris, chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, in tears. “He was ingrained in our community … he touched thousands of lives.”

Brown also worked as a school resource officer for the Baboquivari Unified School District in Sells. Matthew Hall, a long-time friend and former colleague with the police department, spoke about the close relationship Brown developed with students.

“He had a true partnership and trust within the community,” said Hall.

When graduation was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown personally delivered diplomas to graduating seniors, said Hall. 

“I remember the first day I met officer Brown,” said Tohono O’odham Police Chief Elton Begay. “We instantly became friends, sharing war stories of our academy days.”

Begay recounted how they commiserated in having to learn how to climb up and down fire towers in training following the 9/11 attacks. 

“Patrolling the vast O’odham lands is not easy,” said Begay, but Brown was always willing to help his fellow officers and pick up extra shifts. 

Brown was also part of the Tribal Injury Prevention Cooperative Agreement Program, which helped the Tohono O’odham Nation adopt seatbelt regulations, said Begay. 

Begay emphasized that though Brown was technically an outsider —not a tribal member of the Tohono O’odham Nation — he was accepted and highly regarded by the people there. 

Begay shared a story about a time when both of them were assigned to work security at an event. He heard both young and old voices greeting Brown. 

“I thought, ‘Wait a minute, this is my community…I’m the home team, you’re the visitor.’ And he just laughed,” said Begay. “I looked at him and told him, ‘Well Bryan, you earned it’.”

Several speakers mentioned Brown planned tp travel with his family and eventually settle down in the state of Washington, where he was born, after retiring. He had recently purchased an RV, said Begay. 

A 21-gun salute and flag folding ceremony was held in the parking lot. An officer handed the folded flag to Brown’s wife, Rena, before giving it a final salute. 

Brown survived by his wife, seven children, eight grandchildren, seven siblings and his father.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or on Twitter @Mkayackley.

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