Former CHP Patrolman M. Paul Brown Dies

M. Paul Brown, who was a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer for 38 years, died Wednesday of congestive heart failure. He was 76.

Brown, of Tustin, moved to California from his native New Mexico at age 16. According to his daughter, LaVelle Wright of Garden Grove, Brown joined the CHP illegally at 19 “and his brother then reported him because he wanted him to work in his garage cheap.” Brown then rejoined the CHP at the legal age of 21 and stayed there for 38 years.

He was named Orange County Officer of the Year in 1967, and logged over a million miles without an accident in the course of his career.

LaVelle said Brown “didn’t talk much about his job, but he was proud of it until the day he died.”

Brown is survived by his daughter, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren

Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Monday at Shannon-Donegan Funeral Chapel, 137 E. Maple Avenue in Orange, with graveside services at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana. Memorials can be sent to the California Assn. of Highway Patrol Widows and Orphans Trust Fund, Box 2631, Sacramento 95814.