[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  SHERIFF JOHNNY MACK BROWN: A TRIBUTE

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to a leader in the law enforcement field, Sheriff Johnny 
Mack Brown from Greenville, SC.
  Sheriff Brown's community-oriented approach to law enforcement has 
proved an effective and innovative way to help maintain law and order. 
Thanks to Sheriff Brown, agencies from across the country travel to 
observe this concept of bringing law enforcement back into the 
community.
  Mr. President, it gives me great pride to see South Carolinians hard 
at work insuring that our State remains a safe place to raise a family 
and conduct business. Sheriff Brown has taken a bold stance against 
crime.
  ``We must not, we cannot fall into the trap of believing we are there 
to do law enforcement work for the community. We are there to do law 
enforcement work with the community,'' advised Sheriff Brown in a 1993 
newsletter for the National Sheriff's Association.
  Johnny Mack Brown has been recognized as a leader by his colleagues 
both at the national and State level. In 1993 he served as president of 
the National Sheriff's Association and from 1989-91 he was commissioner 
for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. 
And, under the leadership of Sheriff Brown, the Greenville County 
Sheriff's Department was the first to achieve accreditation from the 
commission in 1988. He also served as president of the South Carolina 
Sheriff's Association in 1983.
  Mr. President, I am delighted to commend Sheriff Johnny Mack Brown's 
dedication to improving the community. His efforts will have a lasting 
effect not only in South Carolina but across the country.
  Recently, the Greenville News wrote of the Greenville County 
sheriff's exemplary law enforcement methods as a model for the country. 
I ask unanimous consent that the article be made a part of the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                National Study Looks at Sheriff's Office

                           (By Bryan Gilmer)

       The Greenville County Sheriff's Office is one of 12 law 
     enforcement agencies nationwide being studied for its 
     innovative use of community law enforcement strategies, a 
     researcher said.
       Community law enforcement includes getting law officers 
     heavily involved with communities where they work a permanent 
     beat. Then, rather than just responding to calls when trouble 
     arises, the officer can work with community members to solve 
     underlying problems that cause crime.
       Gerald L. Williams, who teaches at Sam Houston State 
     University in Huntsville, Texas, spent Thursday and Friday 
     interviewing deputies and their commanders at the Sheriff's 
     Office and touring the county.
       In his research project, Williams and a colleague from the 
     University of Kentucky are each examining six agencies. Their 
     research is funded by a grant from the National Institute of 
     Justice.
       ``This was the only sheriff's department that was 
     selected,'' Williams said. ``It's difficult to be objective 
     when you come into an organization like this one and you see 
     the wonderful things they're doing. It's difficult to remain 
     distant and not become a real cheerleader.''
       Williams said he's gathered good information during his 
     visit.
       ``One of the things that is really key to me is that I've 
     been absolutely impressed with the amount of enthusiasm that 
     exists in the people I've talked to, and a commitment toward 
     community-oriented law enforcement here. There's a true sense 
     of, `We're going to make this work.'''
     

                          ____________________