Cpl. Jim Brown has spent the past 18 years with the University of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (UMBPD). He joined the department to make a difference in people’s lives.

“I wanted to dispel the stereotypes that all too often shine a negative light on the profession,” Brown says. “No matter what someone’s social or economic background, I want to show people that they can overcome adversity and bring forth change.”

During his time with UMBPD, Brown says he has been able to foster relationships with communities on and off campus. “The department is committed to building relationships through the Community Outreach and Support Team,” says Brown, who adds that community engagement is his favorite part of being an officer.

While UMBPD is a national model in community policing, Brown says the larger conversation about policing in the United States has made recruiting new police officers a struggle. Many police officers are retiring or leaving the field. “Recruiting is a lot more complex,” he says. “It’s not just setting up a table at a job fair, but more an interpersonal connection with you and the applicant.” Brown says he has learned to be a good listener and be open to conversations about challenges in policing.

Assistant Chief Chad Ellis nominated Brown for March Spotlight Officer. “He has been in the trenches with recruitment and onboarding, all while supporting patrol and other essential duties,” Ellis says.

Brown was working at UMBPD during the civil unrest in April 2015. He says the protests led him to ask a lot of questions: “What happened? Why? What should happen now? What can I do to help?”

“It made me focus more on the feelings of citizens on why they felt enough was enough when it came to interacting with law enforcement,” Brown says.

Outside of work, Brown enjoys spending time with family and traveling. In the future, he hopes to work in the mental health field.