Thad F. Brown

Police career Brown was a member of the sixth ever police academy class for the Los Angeles Police Department, which was held at the 77th Street Police Station. After graduating from the police academy, he became a beat officer, patrolling on foot and worked on directing traffic in the area at 10th Street (now Olympic Boulevard) and Figueroa Street. Brown received his first commendation by a member of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission wrote the then Chief James E. Davis about his excellent work at the intersection. In 1928, his station was moved to Watts, where he would later join the Watts Chamber of Commerce. While waiting for a new chief to be appointed in January 1967, Brown noted that he wanted more time for himself, compared to the requirements of being the Acting Police Chief. Brown hinted to the press that he would soon retire after over four decades at the Los Angeles Police Department. On February 2, 1967, the department approved Thomas Reddin to become the new police chief on February 18, replacing Brown. Reddin stated that Brown, who announced he would remain with the department, would be offered a job as an administrative aide if he wanted it.

Brown received the Distinguished Service Award from the Los Angeles Board of Public Works at Los Angeles City Hall on March 13, 1967. Brown, back in his position as Chief of Detectives, announced his retirement on December 6, 1967, to be effective in January 1968, deciding to spend more time with his family.

Retirement and death Thad Brown suffered with health issues since surgery in early 1970. On the evening of October 8, 1970, Brown complained of pain in his spine and issues breathing at his home in the La Crescenta section of Los Angeles. Soon after, he fell unconscious. His wife and his son, the latter of whom served as a police sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department took Brown to Glendale Adventist Hospital. Brown died at the hospital at 12:50 a.m. on October 9. The Los Angeles City Council closed early in honor of Brown and Mayor of Los Angeles Sam Yorty announced that flags across the city would be lowered to half-mast. Brown's funeral occurred on October 13 with 1,500 people in attendance, including police, newspapermen and boxers. A bookie also attended the funeral. Brown's pallbearers included Thomas Reddin, John Powers, Robert Perry, Robert Tucker, Frank Beeson and William Ojers of the Los Angeles Police Department. 50 members of the police department and California Highway Patrol officers on motorcycle guided the hearse to Forest Lawn Memorial Park's Hollywood Hills cemetery.

Portrayal in media In James Ellroy's 2014 novel, Perfidia, a fictionalized version of Thad Brown is portrayed as a supporting character. Brown's name was frequently mentioned on Dragnet in the early years, especially on the radio program: Detective Joe Friday's self-introduction would include "the boss is Thad Brown, chief of detectives." Brown also makes an uncredited cameo as himself in the 1954 film. In season one episode 1 of the Dragnet television show aired in December 1951, Thad Brown was portrayed by Raymond Burr. In the early seasons of the 1980s TV spoof Mathnet, Thad Brown is parodied as Thad Green, played by James Earl Jones. With Brown's approval, this speech was put into his mouth by Dragnet creator Jack Webb for an episode of the show that dealt with police corruption. It was often reprinted in newspapers, and read at police academies at the time: