Last Updated on January 29, 2025 11:40 am
BOONE, N.C. — Watauga County native and veteran police officer Johnny Brown has been named director of public safety and chief of police at Appalachian State University, after having served in the interim capacity of the role since September 2024. His new role became effective Jan. 20, 2025.
Brown has served as an App State Police officer in the Appalachian State University Police Department (APD), a unit of App State’s Division of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, since 2002. Prior to his new appointment, he served as APD’s patrol commander and captain of operations from 2013 to 2024.
“With over 20 years of dedicated App State law enforcement experience, Police Chief Johnny Brown brings a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to fostering safety, trust and community collaboration,” said Hank Foreman, App State vice chancellor of external affairs and strategic initiatives and chief of staff. “His leadership will elevate the quality of policing for our Boone and Hickory campus communities and our surrounding neighborhoods, ensuring a secure and supportive environment for all.”
Brown works with a team of dedicated App State Police officers and staff members who are committed to ensuring safety and security for all Mountaineers in Boone and Hickory. APD’s mission is to enhance safety across residential, educational and professional spaces by prioritizing proactive security and safety measures, community engagement and collaboration with key partners in the Watauga County community.
Brown is dedicated to supporting professional development and promoting best practices within policing, and he and his APD team regularly engage in comprehensive training programs. He shared that his goals for APD include enhancing the department’s training spaces and increasing the number of opportunities officers have to practice with their peers and with partner organizations in the community.
“Law enforcement is just one part of what we do as police officers,” said Brown. “Police officers can help solve problems creatively, based on the needs of individuals in any given moment. There’s really very little that cannot be managed by actively listening and observing what people need.”
Over his 23-year career with APD, Brown has earned several promotions, and he serves as a general and specialized Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) instructor for the Appalachian Police Academy — part of the Appalachian Police Officer Development Program — and Wilkes Community College. He also provides specialized training to various law enforcement agencies in the region, sharing his expertise and insights to help other agencies enhance their skills and operational effectiveness.
In 2022, Brown was recognized with a UNC System Award for Valor and an APD Medal of Valor for his outstanding action during a critical incident in 2021. He was also named APD’s 2021 Officer of the Year.
“I enjoy seeing other officers succeed, develop professionally and achieve more together,” Brown said. “The work we do in our department — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — is what truly matters. It’s about what we do as a team, and how we engage with this community.”
