NYPD to hold funeral for retired detective,
WWII vet and longtime Queens resident who was
looked after by 113th Precinct officers
WILLIAM BROWN’S 20-YEAR CAREER WITH THE NYPD
ENDED IN 1968 AT THE RANK OF DETECTIVE.
It started last winter when his
to do what they could to help
will be buried at the Long
neighbor on 119th Ave. in St.
him. “His personal life wasn’t
Island National Cemetery in
Albans, Queens, called 311 to
really in order. They helped him
Farmingdale.
ask cops to visit the 95-year-
with his benefits, and got him
old man because she hadn’t
properly registered with the
“He was very calm and mild
seen him for a few days. He
VA. They helped him get to
mannered,” Grover said. “He
had recently complained that
doctor’s appointments,” Grover
always had a smile and loved
his house had no heat with
said.
to tell a story.”
He still kept memorabilia there
Brown was assigned for most
from his time as a cop. Brown
of his career to the 79th
Officers with the 113th Precinct
died on May 20 of heart
precinct in Brooklyn, but he did
visited the home and found it
ailments. When Duhaney fol-
stints in the 104th Precinct in
empty. They eventually found
lowed up with the city Medical
Queens and the 25th Precinct
Brown in the hospital, where
Examiner two weeks later,
in Harlem.
he had gone to be treated for
she learned that no one had
hypothermia. They also learned
claimed his body and there
He received department
that Brown was not only a
was no surviving next of kin,
honors for rescuing a woman
retired detective, but also a
Grover said. He was slated to
and her child from a burning
World War II veteran, who had
be buried on Hart Island, the
building in 1960, busting a man
fought with the 369th Infantry
city’s potters field.
with a loaded gun in 1962, and
Detective Ferguson, from left,
Regiment, known as the Har-
William Brown and Detective
lem Hellfighters.
the temperatures nearing zero,
she said.
ments to claim the body and
Tanya Duhaney at Brown’s home
in St. Albans, Queens.
arresting a burglar armed with
The precinct made arrange-
The precinct’s officers resolved
hold a funeral service. Brown
Funeral Information
The wake and funeral service for Brown was held at the First Church of God
in Christ at 187-10 Baisley Blvd. in Jamaica
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10
a knife in 1964, Grover said.