Timothy Brown:  

After Norwood High, I earned degrees in Police Science and Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. My Senior year at U.C. I served on the U.C. Campus Police in Clilfton.. I joined the Norwood Police force in 1974. As a Patrolman, I investigated all things one might imagine - Traffic accidents, Domestic disputes, Burglary searches, Lost children, Bank robberies, Murders, Suicides, Barricaded persons, Labor Disputes, Striking picket lines and other interesting cases. In those days, before Paramedics, Norwood Police drove the Norwood Life Squad Cadillac to General Hospital (now University Hospital), while firefighters worked on patients in the back of the ambulance. When General Motors was building Chevy Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds.......the popular "Muscle Cars"......literally around the clock on all 3 shifts........there were bar fights every "every hour on the hour and half-hour" all over Norwood. It was quite an interesting time to be a Norwood Police Officer ! Some people may not realize this......When Norwood Police encountered intoxicated persons "down and out" and unable to care for themselves, they WERE NOT automatically arrested. They were brought to the Police Station, given a safe place to stay overnight and food in the morning. They were released WITHOUT being charged with a criminal offense ! They were merely held for "Safekeeping" - no criminal charges. We did NOT believe in arresting people just because they had too much to drink. Our priority was getting them out of harm's way. However........in the 1980s.......the U.S. Supreme Court ruled any person in a jail cell had to be charged criminally. So Norwood's practice of "doing the right thing" --- by taking care of people without causing them financial harm or a criminal record --- had to end. In 1979 I was promoted to Sergeant. My duties included Night Street Supervisor and Tactical Unit Supervisor. I was placed into an unusual situation at the age of only 26. There were 34 patrolmen who I had to supervise - many of whom had become Police Officers when I was a toddler or even before I was born ! I tried to treat each one with respect, keeping in mind they had more street experience than I did. In 1981 I was promoted to Lieutenant. My assignments included Uniformed Shift Commander, Criminal Investigator and Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police. In 1996 I was promoted to Norwood Chief of Police. My motto was "The Taxpayer is the Boss". Too often, government doesn't listen to taxpayers. I believed in doing so - since it's taxpayers WHO PAY THE BILLS ! When I took over as Chief, * The Norwood Police force was 14% under our authorized strength,. * The City was still reeling from the loss of General Motors, * Officer vacancies had gone unfilled. Instead of crying, "We don't have enough manpower or money", we on the Police force began "doing more with less". We were 13 years ahead of the Tea Party ! Any Government official - Local, State or Federal - who says they can't possibly provide the same level of service or even more service - due to cuts in budgets or personnel - isn't really trying. We did it in Norwood. If it can be done in Norwood.......it can be done anywhere. I listened to Norwood homeowners, taxpayers, businesses and school leaders. We proceeded - shorthanded, mind you - to institute several programs, including: * School Security - Uniformed Police Officer every weekday outside Norwood High and Norwood Junior High; * Bike Patrol - Officers were certified in International Police Mountain Bike Techniques; * Uniformed Police Officer Foot Patrol Every Day - the...Expand for more