Former Dallas Police Chief David Brown has announced several post-retirement plans this week including commencement addresses, a memoir and new job with ABC News.
Brown retired in early October after six years as police chief and 33 years total on the force. His retirement came nearly three months after a lone gunman carried out an ambush on police that killed five officers and injured nine.
Brown has emphasized he's not retiring because of the attack. He had been in talks with city leaders for about a year regarding his retirement, he said. In a press conference in September, he didn’t offer many details on his life plans after leaving the force. But this week he has announced a few future commitments.
ABC News contributor
Brown’s experience as an officer will be used to report on issues of gun violence, policing, social justice, race relations, and economic inequality in the U.S. as a contributor for ABC News, according to WFAA. He starts the position on Jan. 1.
In a staff memo sent by company President James Goldston, Brown "became a vital voice to help his community heal, and his leadership and his powerful voice have resonated throughout the nation."
NEW JOB: Former @DPDChief David Brown hired as a contributor by @ABC News. pic.twitter.com/LZALyuQsRi
— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) November 30, 2016
Commencement speaker
Brown was invited to be commencement speaker at the University of Texas. He spent three years studying in Austin — and dropped out in the spring of senior year to come home and become a police officer.
He will be the speaker at the December commencement for Southern Methodist University, too.
Book deal
Ballantine Books announced Thursday that it had a deal with Brown for a "deeply revealing" book, currently untitled, to come out next year, the Associated Press reports. According to Ballantine, the book will reflect his "measured, motivating" approach to his work.
Brown said in a statement that he hoped to emphasize the importance of trust and "other philosophies" he had developed over the years.
More about David Brown
Brown had been police chief since 2010. He joined the force in 1983, motivated by the impact the crack cocaine epidemic had on his Oak Cliff neighborhood. He has since served as a patrol officer, investigator, deputy chief and first assistant chief of operations.
City officials say Brown is Dallas' longest-serving police chief in more than 50 years.
Assistant Chief David Pughes is serving as interim police chief as the department conducts a national search for candidates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
