Endorsement Statement:
“It is my pleasure to add my name to the list of law enforcement professionals endorsing Sheriff Brown’s bid for reelection. Sheriff Brown has fought for years to bring humanity and compassion to the inmates in his care. The opening of the Northern Branch Jail is the culmination of that effort.
During the turmoil following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Sheriff Brown joined in condemning the actions of the officers in Minneapolis but stood solidly behind the men and women of Santa Barbara County law enforcement, even when it was not popular to do so.
Sheriff Brown consistently demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and compassion. He has served the people of Santa Barbara County with distinction. He deserves reelection.”
–Bernard Melekian
Chief of Police, Santa Barbara Police Department
Endorsed by both the California Police Chiefs’ Association and the California Peace Officers’ Association
Dear Friends,
Leading more than 800 men and women in the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is something I look forward to every day when I go to work. That’s why I am pleased to be running for re-election as your sheriff. I was first elected to office in 2006, and it’s been my honor to have been re-elected three times and to have served until now as your sheriff. I have provided strong, effective and stable leadership as the county’s chief law enforcement officer, and – with your help – I will continue to do just that. I ask for your support and your vote on June 7, 2022.
I am humbled by the tremendous support I am getting in this re-election campaign. I’ve received over a thousand re-election endorsements from supporters across the political spectrum and from all walks of life. I would be honored to add you to that growing list.
As we move toward the June election, I will run a positive campaign. I will focus on my qualifications, my record of personal accomplishment, and the collective accomplishments attained through the efforts of the outstanding men and women I am honored to lead.
In my next term I will:
- Continue to work hard for you to keep our county safe by making sure our top priority is having properly trained and equipped deputy sheriffs on our streets and custody deputies working in our jails.
- Carry on working diligently and collaboratively with other County departments and community-based organizations to improve treatment and divert mentally ill people from the criminal justice system.
- Bring community leaders and organizations together to collaboratively address the Opioid Crisis, a nationwide epidemic that is destroying far too many lives.
- Continue to guide the Sheriff’s Office through the most severe economic challenges it has ever faced. Despite losing 80 General Fund employees since 2007 due to County budget shortfalls, under my leadership the Sheriff’s Office has continued to provide vital, high quality public safety services in an exemplary manner.
- Work with the Board of Supervisors and County CEO to restore some of the many Sheriff’s Office positions lost during the County’s prolonged economic downturn.
- Continue and expand efforts to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for a successful return to the community after their release. The new Northern Branch Jail, which was made possible by $80 million in state funding obtained under my leadership, is now open. This jail was designed as a state-of-the-art correctional facility that will better prepare criminal offenders for their return back into our communities. This project brought hundreds of jobs and injected millions of dollars in revenue into our local economy.
To accomplish these and many other goals, I need your help. Please join our campaign and help re-elect me with your support and your vote on June 7th.
Sincerely,
BILL BROWN
Sheriff – Coroner
Santa Barbara County
About Sheriff Bill Brown
A DIVERSE & DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SAFETY CAREER
- Elected Sheriff-Coroner of Santa Barbara County in November, 2006.
- Reelected in 2010, 2014 and 2018.
- Served as Lompoc’s Chief of Police (1995-2007).
- Served as Moscow, Idaho’s Chief of Police (1992-1995). Responsible for providing police protection to the city and to the University of Idaho.
- Served the City of Inglewood, California as a Police Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Acting Captain in a wide variety of line level, supervisory, management, and command positions (1980-1992).
- Served the City of Pacifica, California as a Police Officer (1977-1980).
- Served as an Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic in Los Angeles County (1974-1977).
A SOLID JOB-RELATED EDUCATION
- Masters in Public Administration (M.P.A.), University of Southern California. Distinguished Master’s Student award.
- BA in Management, with Distinction. University of Redlands, California.
- Graduate:
- FBI National Executive Institute
- Delinquency Control Institute
- FBI National Academy
- Northwest Command College
- National Sheriffs’ Institute
RECOGNITION FROM PEERS & THE COMMUNITY
- Vice President, Major County Sheriffs of America, 2022-Present
- President of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2017-2018.
- President of the California Police Chiefs’ Association, 2005-2006.
- Chairman, Santa Barbara County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association.
- Selected as the Sherman Block Law Enforcement Professional of the Year for 2017 – the California Peace Officers’ Association’s highest honor.
- Awarded the California Forensic Mental Health Association’s Words to Deeds Paradigm Award and its Christine M. West Award for championing efforts to end criminalization of persons with mental illness.
- Awarded the Westmont Medal from Westmont College for leadership during the Thomas Fire and the 1/9 Debris Flow.
- Distinguished Service Award – Santa Barbara County Probation Department.
- Léni Fé Bland Award – Santa Barbara Rescue Mission.
- Community Champion Award – Community Action Commission.
GROUNDED IN FAITH, FAMILY & COMMUNITY
- Attends Lompoc Foursquare Church.
- Happily married for more than 40 years, with 3 grown children.
- Active in numerous community and professional organizations.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING PROPONENT
- Firm advocate of the philosophy of community policing, where law enforcement and members of the community work together to identify and solve problems relating to:
- Crime
- Fear of crime
- Neighborhood decay
- Quality of life issues
Experience
- Sheriff of Santa Barbara County 2007-Present
- Chief of Police, Lompoc, California 1995-2007
- Chief of Police, Moscow, Idaho 1992-1995
- Graduate, Northwest Command College
- Graduate, 169th Session, FBI National Academy
- Graduate, 33rd Session, FBI National Executive Institute
- Graduate, 1st Session, National Sheriff’s Institute 2 (Jail Administration)
- Master’s in Public Administration, USC
- Bachelor’s in Management, University of Redlands
- President, 91st Class of the Delinquency Control Institute
- Chairman, Santa Barbara County Law Enforcement Chiefs
- Vice-President, Major County Sheriffs of America, 2022-Present
- President, California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2017-2018
- Past President, California Police Chiefs’ Association, 2005-2006
- Commissioner, State of California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, 2010-Present
Leadership
A strong record of executive leadership at the local, state, and national level.
Testimonials
“I am supporting Bill because he has EARNED my respect and admiration. Having stood by him during many of this county’s most difficult and arduous times, I have been in a unique position to know how he thinks, feels and acts. I am not just impressed by all that, but at times I have been in awe – of his wisdom, insight, sensitivity and bravery. More than ever, I want Bill Brown to continue to be our Sheriff.
Bill has PROVED himself over and over again, during crises, and beyond, that he is the chief public safety officer that we can all rely upon. He’s the sheriff who shows up, knows what to do and knows how to do it. He knows that based upon extensive training and vast experience.
I am confident Sheriff Bill Brown is the only qualified person for this job.”
“Sheriff Bill Brown has an enviable reputation of excellence in each of his four terms as Sheriff – Coroner of Santa Barbara County. He is healthy, full of energy, and still driven by the passion that led him through his incredible achievements in his law enforcement career. Sheriff Brown knows his massive responsibilities and has lived the demands of a very diverse organization. He brings great commitment to his consistent and transparent leadership. We should be honored that Sheriff Brown is willing to serve the people of Santa Barbara County for another term of office.”
“Sheriff Bill Brown is one of the most respected law enforcement leaders in the country. That is why he was elected by his peers to lead the Major County Sheriffs of America as our Vice President and next President. In this role, he has been a trusted resource for Cabinet officials, federal law enforcement partners, and his fellow sheriffs on the most critical issues in policing. His decades of experience as a police chief and sheriff have not just made Santa Barbara safer, but this country safer. He is as willing to share the lessons of his leadership with his colleagues as he is to take on new ideas and innovations from them. He is an exceptional sheriff, a dear friend, and someone I am proud to endorse.”
“There are far too many people who do not understand or appreciate the complexity of running something as large and diverse as a law enforcement agency, including those who should. It may look easy on the outside with all the accouterments of office, but I know it is anything but easy.”
“Bill has been a calm and wise voice during his tenure as the top county peace officer, and has done so in some very difficult situations, including the awful debris deaths of 2018 and the terrible dive boat fire that killed 34 people. Bill has a fundamental belief and confidence in America and its underlying principles.”
Please support Bill in the coming election.”
“Santa Barbara county needs his leadership now more than ever.”
“I can’t imagine this county without him as our sheriff.”
“His voice and wisdom continue to be needed throughout the county and state.”
“Even during these challenging times you are excelling.”
“I’ve worked alongside Bill in good times, and during times of great adversity. I’ve had the opportunity to learn something about him, and to understand who that person is behind the badge and the title of Sheriff. Bill is a thoughtful man of high intellect. He has tremendous experience navigating the wide range of challenges and shouldering the serious responsibilities faced by today’s chief law enforcement executives. Many of these challenges are daunting and unique to the office of Sheriff. The Northern Branch Jail serves as a physical manifestation of Bill’s vision, his tenacity and his administrative acumen. In short, Bill knows how to get the job done. Most important to me, I know something of Bill’s character. He’s a good man…a man of faith who has a heart for service to others. I know Bill to be a man of compassion for all those he serves, including those he is charged with holding and caring for while they are in custody.
Experience, intellect, a passion for service, and compassion for others. These are the reasons I’m endorsing Bill Brown for re-election as Sheriff!”
“Endorsing Bill is a no brainer. He’s an outstanding Sheriff and wonderful man. “
“Bill possesses the rare combination of skills that are so desperately needed in these troubled times. His experience, skill, stability, passion, innovative approaches, partnership building, empathy and heart is why Bill is the “go to” leader in our county when we are facing difficult challenges.”
“The Sheriff is the best thing that ever happened to the department.”
“I have always thought his progressive outlook best serves the people of Santa Barbara County.”
“He is a great inspiration to us in his devotion to the important work of keeping the peace. Santa Barbara County is blessed to have Bill.”
“We consider our Sheriff to be a strong leader who stands firmly with his entire staff and our community.”
“I liked Bill Brown from the first time I met him, as the Chief of Police in Lompoc. He allowed the detectives to burn up some overtime to investigate and solve the Vandenberg Federal Credit Union robbery-homicide. As sheriff he has dealt with mud flows, floods, fires – lots of them, Covid, the new north county jail, all the usual law enforcement issues and all without a scandal. I am voting for him and hope you do too. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it! He is a good – honest law enforcement officer.
“I have always felt that he was one of the best sheriffs Santa Barbara has been fortunate to have at the helm of that department. I say this not only because I was a long-time resident of Santa Barbara and Montecito, but also because I came to know and admire him while we were both serving on the Board of Directors of the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation. His dedication to service and his general mien was obvious. He was a good listener, not egotistic at all, and he always seemed to be concerned that decisions that we made were in good faith and to the benefit of the veterans we were serving. I always believed that he had the same concern and consideration for the benefit of our citizens. I endorse him whole heartedly.”
“I would be honored to support such a professional law enforcement officer as Sheriff Bill Brown.”
“Sheriff Brown is always looking for ways to make the world around him better.”
“The past couple of years have been difficult, to say the least, but from my perspective the department seems to be moving ahead despite all the negativity. To me this shows that there is good leadership.”
“I am honored to endorse Bill. I am grateful that he is running again to be our Sheriff…we need him…he is honorable, reasonable, and understands the place/importance of law enforcement in our society.”
“At this time the County and the County Sheriff’s Department needs the steady experienced hand of Bill at the helm, and I can think of no better person.”
“For all the right reasons, Bill continues to be seen as one of the most intellectual and genuinely open-minded Sheriffs in our state.”
