When the Police Department honored Officer Stephanie Brown in May, her family was in Washington, D.C., watching as her name was added to the memorial of officers killed the previous year.
On Saturday at the Alamodome, Police Chief William McManus finally draped a Purple Heart medal around the neck of her father, Officer Stanley Brown.
Stephanie Brown died March 15, 2011, killed by a drunken driver going the wrong way on Interstate 35.
Stanley Brown, a 12-year veteran of the force, said that even though he knew the dangers of police work, he didn't worry about his daughter more than the average parent.
“You always worry about your kids, whether they're in the Police Department or not,” Stanley Brown said. “It doesn't matter what they do, you always worry about them.”
Stephanie Brown's daughter, Audrey De La Rosa, 2, and mother, Shawn Brown, were at the ceremony as well.
Stanley Brown, 54, also was asked to make the coin toss before Saturday's University of Texas at San Antonio football game, although he said he's a bigger fan of “the real football” — soccer.
The death of Stephanie Brown, a single mother, helped focus public interest on the issue of wrong-way drivers, McManus said.
“When police officers out there trying to protect people from wrong-way drivers are getting killed themselves, then something's seriously wrong,” he said.
The attention paid to Brown's death galvanized support for a plan to deal with wrong-way drivers, McManus said. Shortly after she was killed, a multi-agency committee was convened to address the issue. Now, electronic signs on highways warn of wrong-way drivers, and lighted warning signs have been installed on entrance and exit ramps.
Stanley Brown said people approach him on the street with personal stories about how his daughter affected them. That helps, he said, but the pain still lingers.
“It's hard,” he said. “There will always be something that will come up and make you think about what happened.”
jbuch@express-news.net
On Saturday at the Alamodome, Police Chief William McManus finally draped a Purple Heart medal around the neck of her father, Officer Stanley Brown.
Stephanie Brown died March 15, 2011, killed by a drunken driver going the wrong way on Interstate 35.Stanley Brown, a 12-year veteran of the force, said that even though he knew the dangers of police work, he didn't worry about his daughter more than the average parent.
“You always worry about your kids, whether they're in the Police Department or not,” Stanley Brown said. “It doesn't matter what they do, you always worry about them.”
Stephanie Brown's daughter, Audrey De La Rosa, 2, and mother, Shawn Brown, were at the ceremony as well.
Stanley Brown, 54, also was asked to make the coin toss before Saturday's University of Texas at San Antonio football game, although he said he's a bigger fan of “the real football” — soccer.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus (left) shakes hands with Officer Stanley Brown who accepted the department's Purple Heart medal in honor of his daughter and slain Officer Stephanie Brown during a ceremony at the Alamodome on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. Stephanie Brown was killed last March while on duty when her police vehicle was struck by a suspected drunk driver. Stephanie Brown's daughter, Audrey, was also in attendance for the ceremony.
Photos: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / ©2012 San Antonio Express-News
The death of Stephanie Brown, a single mother, helped focus public interest on the issue of wrong-way drivers, McManus said.
“When police officers out there trying to protect people from wrong-way drivers are getting killed themselves, then something's seriously wrong,” he said.
The attention paid to Brown's death galvanized support for a plan to deal with wrong-way drivers, McManus said. Shortly after she was killed, a multi-agency committee was convened to address the issue. Now, electronic signs on highways warn of wrong-way drivers, and lighted warning signs have been installed on entrance and exit ramps.
Stanley Brown said people approach him on the street with personal stories about how his daughter affected them. That helps, he said, but the pain still lingers.
“It's hard,” he said. “There will always be something that will come up and make you think about what happened.”
jbuch@express-news.net
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