Sept.29, 1983

Deputy Mourned by

500

By Paul H. Rubin

Staff writer

Deputy Jeff Brown was eulogized by a priest Wednesday at funeral services attended by about 500 lawmen and civilians as "willing to lay down his life, even for unjust persons".

Brown, who would have been 26 years old Wednesday, died Saturday at a Tucson hospital. The death may have been caused by blows Brown received during an October 1982 clash between deputies and a church group in Miracle Valley.

Brown told investigators he was hit with a metal pipe, stick, a board and rocks during the melee. Two members of the Christ Miracle Healing Center and Church were killed and several deputies were injured during the skirmish.

Authorities said Tuesday it could take a month before the cause of Brown's death is determined. Cochise County Attorney Beverly Jenney said it would be determined whether a homicide investigation will be opened in Brown's death once tests are complete.

Uniformed officers from law enforcement agencies from as far North as Phoenix joined white gloved Cochise County Deputies, about 20 Miracle Valley residents and Brown's family and friends for the 1 p.m. services at the St. Andrews Mission Church, nestled in the Huachuca Mountain foothills Southeast of Sierra Vista.

Jeff Brown's Funeral Procession, led by Police Motors and family

"Jeff is a sign of divine life and many other signs," said Voigt. "It is also a sign of stupidity and senselessness in our society that a good man may die trying to uphold the laws of our society." Voigt called Brown "that rare person willing to lay down his life, even for unjust persons."

After the service, a motorcycle escort and some 100 police vehicles with their emergency lights on led a procession that stretched more than two miles from Yaqui Street down State Highway 92 to Hatfield's Funeral Home, for another gathering of family members and close friends.

From there, the police procession turned West on Fry Blvd. To the Knights of Columbus.

Official pallbearers at Brown's funeral were Dan Ryan, Paul Gruen, Craig Emanuel, Jim Messerly, Luis Rodriquez and David Wheeler.

Uniformed officers from at least three counties, Pima, Gila and Coconino attended the service.

Among Brown's survivors are his parents and his two sisters.

*as printed by the Sierra Vista Herald Dispatch on September 29, 1983

Police Memorial, Washington D.C.

Bob Randall and Mark Dannels