BLACKSBURG, VA – Bill Brown was a man known for knocking down barriers and paving the way for black police officers in the New River Valley.
Today, we learned of the passing of the former Blacksburg Chief of Police.
”To be able to accomplish the things that I accomplished, I give it all to the good Lord,” Brown said in a 2021 interview with 10 News.
Brown was known to many simply as ‘chief’ - but the Town of Blacksburg remembers him as so much more - a pioneer who broke barriers and inspired a community.
“He could not only tell you the right way of doing things, but you could see it in his actions,” Brown’s colleague David ‘Chico’ Cole said.
Back in 1993, Brown was a captain who took a chance on young officer, Chico Cole.
“‘You work for the Blacksburg Police Department, and you work for me and you represent us both. And I want you to represent us both in a favorable manner.’ That stuck. That sunk in, and I have remembered that ever since we had that conversation back in 1993,” Cole said.
Brown rose through the ranks - becoming chief just three years after that.
“When he walked in a room, people instantly knew who Bill Brown was,” Cole said.
In that earlier interview with brown, he told us about how his journey in policing began in 1970 when he was recruited as the first black officer in the New River Valley.
“He said I’ve been looking for a colored boy to put on the police department and says that I’d like to hire you, I’d like for you to work for me,” Brown said in 2021.
It came with a host of challenges, but Brown took it in stride.
“The chief at the time wanted all the officers to have their telephone numbers in the telephone book listed, and sometimes you’d get a call with people threatening you or something, or using some kind of racial slur,” Brown said.
Brown’s legacy is forever preserved at the Blacksburg Police Department. His name is written in large, bold letters on the front of the building.
That’s because, in 2021, the town voted to name the new station after him.
It’s something Brown said at the time, meant the world.”
Cole considered Brown a second father.
He learned of Brown’s passing Friday morning and tells me he and Blacksburg, are forever changed.
“He lead by example. He did all of the things you want to see a leader do,” Cole said.
The Blacksburg Police Department released the following statement Friday night:
“It is with a heavy heart that Blacksburg Police Department acknowledges the passing of retired Chief of Police William “Bill” H. Brown. After serving his country in Vietnam, Chief Brown became the first African American police officer in the New River Valley in 1970. He rose through the police department ranks and, after attending the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia, he was appointed Chief of Police in 1994. Brown led the department with integrity, honesty, and respect through his retirement in 2006. After retiring, Chief Brown served on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors from 2008 through 2015; he was the Board Chair in 2014 and 2015. Chief Brown’s service to the community, especially the Blacksburg police department, will be remembered for generations to come."
Blacksburg Police Department
The department also said that McCoy Funeral Home will be handling arrangements for the family and a visitation will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, and Friday at the McCoy Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m.
The Funeral service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.