Virginia cop who chased down youth suspect in high school shooting praised at White House

Jet, July 13, 1998

Police Officer Ron Brown Sr., who chased down and arrested a boy who was suspected of firing a gun and wounding two people in a Richmond, VA, high school, was in for even more excitement the following day.

Instead of patrolling the hallways of Armstrong High School, his regular beat, Brown found himself in the corridors of power in the nation's capital at the White House.

In the midst of hundreds of police officers from across the country who had come to the White House to celebrate during a bill-signing ceremony on bulletproof vest legislation, the Black officer was introduced and praised by President Clinton.

After he was asked to stand from his front-row seat in the East Room, he was given a huge ovation.

"Thank you very much for your service," he heard the president say. Later, the president brought Brown to his side for the bill-signing.

Clinton noted that funding he earlier released to hire more police for a nationwide community policing drive had resulted in Brown's assignment to Armstrong High School.

Facing TV cameras, Brown became the most photographed figure at the ceremony-next to the president.

Later, President Clinton introduced Brown to the reporters and encouraged them to have the veteran officer, who was accompanied by his wife, Cynthia, an accounting clerk, expound on his views on law enforcement and his heroic act.