Dallas Police Chief David Brown Joins ABC News As Contributor

ABC News President James Goldston sent the following note to the news division this morning:

Team –

I’m pleased to announce that retiring Dallas Police Chief David Brown is joining ABC News as a contributor starting January 1st.

Chief Brown is a 33-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, who made great strides during his tenure to improve relations between the police force and the community.

On a terrible night in July, five officers in his department were killed by a lone gunman during a peaceful protest against law enforcement. Chief Brown became a vital voice to help his community heal, and his leadership and his powerful voice have resonated throughout the nation.

His passion to fight injustice began as a teenager. Chief Brown witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of the crack cocaine epidemic in his neighborhood, dropping out his senior year of college to join the police force. He would go on to lead one of the nation’s largest police departments, after serving as a patrolman, crime scene detective, SWAT team leader and internal affairs director. He understands very well the demands of the job and the frustrations felt by minority communities across the U.S.

As our country begins a new Presidential era, we’re very fortunate to have Chief Brown’s unique perspective to inform our reporting on many of the nation’s fault lines- economic inequality, gun violence, race relations, policing and social justice.

Please join me in welcoming Chief Brown to ABC News.

James