Paul Thomas Brown

December 11, 1938 – July 24, 2024 - After a difficult last illness, Paul Tomas Brown passed away at his West Linn home on July 19, 2024, with his wife at his side. Born in Pasadena, CA on December 11, 1938, Paul was the only child of Opal Maurice (Hanes) Brown and Victor Atlas Brown. Raised in Monrovia, CA by his mother and step-father, Charles T. (Chuck) Heyl, a police officer, Paul had a happy childhood, graduated from Monrovia-Duarte High School, and with his parents’ consent, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 17 hoping to become a pilot. After learning his corrected vision precluded that goal, Paul was trained as a weapons mechanic and armorer, and his service included a tour in South Korea.

While in the Air Force, Paul married Susan Anthony, and when he was honorably discharged in 1960, they moved to southern Oregon where Paul’s extended family had relocated and where their children, Colleen Elizabeth and Jeffrey Tomas, were born. Inspired by his stepfather’s career, Paul became a Medford Police Officer and completed Oregon’s first Police Academy in 1961, when he was assigned BPST No. 00277. He married Patricia (Kime) Sparks, and their children Marcia Marie and Jason Tomas were born in Medford.

When Medford Police Lieutenant Lyle Perkins was appointed Police Chief in Lake Oswego, he recruited Paul to join the Lake Oswego Police Department in 1968. Paul advanced to the rank of sergeant after only one year as a police officer and in 1974 was promoted to lieutenant, serving as second in command until his retirement in 1998. While working full time, Paul attended Portland State University earning both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Public Administration. He was among Oregon’s first law enforcement professionals to train others in “incident command” and served in many law enforcement leadership capacities across the region.

In 1977, Paul married Anna Jaeger, and in their 46 years of marriage, they faithfully supported each other in every endeavor: Paul helped Anna and her siblings care for their ailing parents; he motivated Anna to go to law school and consistently supported her legal career ultimately leading to her service as a federal judge; he shared his favorite activities with her, teaching her to ski, to enjoy a broad range of food, wine, chocolate, scotch and movies, and about collector cars. Together they embraced local and international travel whenever possible.

With seeds planted during childhood hunting experiences with his “Grandpa Tex” and skills advanced during his military and law enforcement training, Paul became an expert marksman and, in 1999, he realized his dream of safari hunting in Zimbabwe. On his return, Paul and Anna decided to build a larger house to better accommodate the many celebrations they hosted for family and friends. After leading the search for a perfect site, he served as the “volunteer general contractor” and was onsite every day from ground-breaking to move-in. He ensured the kitchen was designed to support his creative cooking talents, and he insisted on a floor plan that included sight lines from the kitchen to a movie screen and, above all, one-level living “for when we need it.”

As his family and friends know well, Paul was a good and decent soul with a wry sense of humor. He was always more concerned with others than himself, and he is sorely missed. He is survived by his wife, Anna; his children Colleen (Rhett Henkel), Jeffrey (Heather), Marcia, and Jason (Heather Hymas); and his five grandchildren (Kristina Anderson, Emily Anderson, Madison Brown, Triston Brown, and Sophia Brown). His remains will be laid to rest in a private graveside service. In December near what would have been his 86th birthday, there will be a Celebration of Life. In his memory, please consider a donation to Youth Music Project (YMP), 2015 8th Avenue, West Linn, OR 97068 (www.youthmusicproject.org to donate online); or to the Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation c/o Donations, 818 SW 3rd Ave., #347, Portland, OR 97204 (or https://oregonfallenbadge.com/help-support-our-efforts.html).