[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SERGEANT RONNIE O'NEAL BROWN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 29, 2009

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life 
and legacy of the late Sergeant Ronnie O'Neal Brown, a nearly 20-year-
veteran of the Polk County Sheriffs Office, who recently passed as a 
result of injury suffered in the line of duty. He worked tirelessly to 
provide the citizens of Polk County with safety and service.
  Sergeant Brown was hired as a detention deputy in October 1989 and 
was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in April 1997. He was most 
recently assigned to the South County Jail in Frostproof, Florida as a 
supervisor in Delta Platoon.
  Sgt. Brown was injured in the line of duty on Sunday, August 30, 
2009, after responding to a disturbance in an unruly prisoner's cell in 
the South County Jail. On Monday, September 7, 2009, he passed away.
  During his nearly 20-year career, Sgt. Brown was known for his 
professionalism, attention to detail, positive influence on those 
around him, and his excellent work ethic. His personnel file is filled 
with accolades and letters of recognition for his hard work and 
dedication to the agency and to his fellow agency members. In May 2007, 
he and two other detention deputies were awarded a Meritorious Service 
Medal for providing CPR to an unresponsive inmate in the jail. It is 
quite clear that Sgt. Brown demonstrated a passion for law enforcement 
and commitment to helping others, qualities that enabled him to become 
a respected and model member of the Polk County Sheriffs Office.
  Sgt. Brown was a loving husband, proud father, and devoted friend. He 
is survived by his wife Albertina Brown, a detention deputy assigned to 
the inmate booking area in Bartow, Florida, and one daughter.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in 
recognizing Sgt. Brown's extraordinary life and many accomplishments 
within the Polk County Sheriffs Office. I appreciate this opportunity 
to pay tribute to him before the United States House of 
Representatives. Sgt. Brown was an outstanding American worthy of our 
collective honor and appreciation. It is with deep respect and 
admiration that I commend him for his contributions to his community 
and the many lives that he touched while serving as a shining example 
of his legacy.

                          ____________________