A Man on a Mission: Special Police Captain Garth Brown (Ret.)
/A Man on a Mission: Special Police Captain Garth Brown (Ret.)
By George Beck, Ph.D.
Blue Magazine recently spoke with Special Police Capt. Garth Brown (Ret.), whose career spanned over three decades at the Ridgefield Police Department. In this interview, Brown offers his perspective on the special police program—he highlights the valuable services they provide, including their involvement in community outreach efforts, such as the New Jersey Special Olympics. The most visible forms of policing in the United States are the local police departments, which provide the majority of policing services for the country’s 327 million people. Local police departments employ approximately 600,000 full-time sworn officers and about 55,000 people on a part-time basis. These part-time supplemental forces greatly help overburdened police departments deliver quality services to the residents, and they help increase the overall safety of the community. Special police officers are an invaluable addition to the police force.
Many special police officers are passionate law enforcement professionals who work tirelessly for the betterment of the profession and the community. Since Brown was hired as a special police officer, he immediately demonstrated a love of service to others. It fitted that he later became involved with the New Jersey Special Olympics. Brown’s work with the Special Olympics is commendable. He is a significant part of the program and currently serves as the Bergen County (Area 12) director. In 2017, they collectively raised nearly $9.5 million—%3.9 million directly from the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Brown has been active with the Torch Run since the early days of his career and continues today with the same level of passion and dedication.
Why are special police officers necessary?
Special Police Officers give a level of community policing that might not be available, depending on the size of the regular force. In Ridgefield, we provide security at municipal recreation areas, borough buildings, and events throughout the borough. This is accomplished by foot, bicycle, Segway and motor patrol. These officers are helping the patrol officers keep the community safe and secure for the residents and the many visitors who travel through the community every day. Many aspiring police officers begin as special police officers; tell us how valuable this experience is. Extremely valuable. Positive interaction with the public is one of the keys to successful policing. Getting to know the residents makes the job so much easier when dealing with stressful situations. Being a special also provides learning for aspiring officers—learning like how to react to certain stressful situations early on, like a graphic car accident or another tragedy they are called to assist at. This exposure makes it easier for them when they later add responsibilities that come with being a regular police officer. They also learn things that they will take with them during their career—tasks like directing traffic, report writing, observing the entire scene to avoid tunnel vision. I was always a stickler for ‘no hands in your pockets’ when you’re at a scene. It looks sloppy and lazy and is not a tactical way to perform your duties.
What is the most memorable part of your work on the job?
After 30 years, it's hard to pick the most memorable moments, but I think as a whole, as we say all the time, I had the best seats to the greatest show on Earth. I got to see people at their worst and their best. There were so many memorable experiences throughout my career. I really enjoyed the interaction with the residents and doing what I could to help. Hopefully, I made a difference in their lives and the community I served.
What are your goals this year with the Special Olympics?
I’d like to see younger officers getting involved. We need officers to carry on over 35 years of raising awareness and funds for people with intellectual disabilities. We have such a worthy cause. Yeah, I’d love to see more of the younger officers get involved and see how powerful the brotherhood can be when we are united around a common cause—to help those who need us and make an impact on the world around us.
The Torch Run is very successful. What is the secret to success?
I have always said that once you touch it, you’re hooked. I am blessed to have three healthy children and two healthy grandsons. I was raised to give back to the community, and that’s the way I raised my kids—all three volunteers with the Special Olympics. My son is presently a Marine assigned to Washington, D.C., but when he finds the time to come back and visit, he volunteers at events. The key to a successful Torch run is really because of the people who are involved. So many great officers and supporters give so much of their time and effort to make it a success each year. I am proud to be a part of this endeavor, and I know they are two. It’s all about working together, and rally behind the right cause.
What are your plans for the future now that you are retired?
I retired from my full-time job with Bergen County Communications back in September of 2016. Since then, I have been teaching and consulting for 9-1-1 Centers and Communications Centers. I am also starting to get involved in Suicide Awareness and Prevention for emergency service workers. It’s an important issue that needs to be dealt with. Every day I go on social media and see how we lose a brother or sister to suicide. I always think in some way I can help. Even it’s just one life, I know I can help. So I’ve been putting my energies there. Suicide is a significant problem in our Country. We all need to do our part to help. Also, retirement has afforded me more time to devote to the Special Olympics. I am genuinely enjoying myself and the initiatives I get involved in. Isn’t this what retirement is supposed to be about?
When all is said and done, what do you want to be remembered for?
As I said before, I hope I made a positive difference in the lives of the people I had worked with and the public that I served. I hope they would know that I always cared about them, the law enforcement profession, and the residents we served. I’d like to think that they’d say, ‘Garth, yea, he’s OK’!
Blue Magazine thanks Special Police Capt. Garth Brown (Ret.) and wishes him the best in retirement and with all his future endeavors. For more information on how to get involved with the New Jersey Special Olympics, check out https://www.sonj.org.
