Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Present Corrections Officer Dante Brown the Rising Shield Award

On June 20, 2014 the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police held their annual presentations for Rising Shields of Law Enforcement.  Corrections Office Dante Brown was nominated and chosen as the Rising Shield from a large law enforcement agency.  He is the first Corrections Officer to receive this award.

Officer Brown has sought and received training as a booking, classification and Correctional Response Team (CRT) member.  His initiative drove him to take on these additional responsibilities, his determination and commitment allowed him to excel in these leadership positions becoming the shift classification officer and assistant team leader for CRT. 

Officer Brown believes that information is a powerful tool of law enforcement.  The public safety and community service programs he is doing are a great start for getting information out to the communities.  Being a corrections officer he cannot police the neighborhoods but as the classification officer in the jail and trained in gang activity, he can still make a difference.  He is compiling and organizing data concerning the gang members that are or were incarcerated.  He is distributing that information to local law enforcement, county criminal investigation units and the judiciary divisions.  Officer Brown knows that the information he disseminates will help decrease the crime in the communities, thus making them stronger.

During the past several years and always on his own time; Officer Brown conducted or participated in over 125 Lake County Sheriff’s “Choice”, Drug Awareness, Anti-Gang and “Law Enforcement Education” programs; plus many jail tours, exhibitions, and presentations.  He goes to the local community centers, schools and churches to educate and help the members of the community, especially the younger children.  He educates them about law enforcement and explains to them that wise/good choices made today will have a favorable impact on their lives tomorrow. 

As of January 1, 2014 Officer Brown’s public safety and community service efforts have created a positive impact for over 10,500 members of our community.  His superior professional abilities, communication skills, commitment and altruistic nature are in keeping with the highest traditions of law enforcement and reflect great credit on himself, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the entire law enforcement profession.

Officer Brown realized that he could not make the changes he wanted to by himself.  He spoke with his fellow officers asking them to volunteer their time and experience with the programs.  What started out with 5 officers now has over 30 officers, the majority of them recruited by Officer Brown.  The number and diversity of the officers he has added, significantly increases the overall effectiveness of the programs.

Officer Brown grew up in a neighborhood full of gangs and drugs.  He has first-hand knowledge of the harm that those things can do to young people and even whole communities.  He has made a point to go to the grammar, middle and high schools he attended while growing up.  He talks to the students, faculty and parents, to show them that the law enforcement community cares, is there to help and can help if allowed. 

Officer Brown’s personality is such that he takes the lead when appropriate.  The shift officers, as well as his command, defer the classification issues to him, relying on his knowledge and experience to make the right assessments.  Also, his fellow CRT members look to him for guidance during their deployments.  Officer Brown has received several letters of commendation and many positive performance write-ups, for his leadership, initiative, and ability to work well under pressure.

End of Release.