Meet Your Fire Chief: Leo Brown

Fire Chief Leo Brown has served the city of Laurel as a firefighter for nearly 29 years and continues to look forward to protecting and improving the city.

Brown was born and raised in Laurel and after high school, joined the Army where he served for seven years from 1983 to 1990. In February 1992, he got married.

He credits his success to persistence and the previous experience he had in the military learning leadership qualities and people skills. “There is a lot of camaraderie,” he said. “You work with a lot of different people- it’s like a family.”

One thing that meant a lot to Brown as he was starting out, and that he continues to focus on as chief, is to give credit where it is due and provide the best possible support for the team. “It meant a lot to me when I was coming up,” he said. “Compliment a job well done and get the stuff they need to do the job.”

He also works to encourage his team to build their skills so that they too can rise up in the ranks. “A lot of guys are real passionate about this job. I want them to learn this job so that one day they can sit over here,” he said referencing the chief’s position.

In addition to building up his team, Brown also enjoys working to increase public understanding of the services that the fire department provides.

“It takes a good ear and a thick skin,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know what goes on. For example, water coming from the truck does not mean that the truck is losing water. It is not leaking it is just part of the process. I want to bridge that gap between public knowledge,” he explained. “I like dealing with the public. I’m a people person,” he said. “My door is always open.”

Brown’s goals for the future of the department include acquiring better training and equipment, building up the department’s personnel, increasing public awareness about the department and its work, and improving the city’s fire rating.

He and his wife live in Laurel. They have a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren.