Queens says goodbye to DA Brown
De Blasio touts long-time prosecutor’s record of accomplishments at eulogy in Forest Hills
Police officers escort the hearse carrying the body of the late Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown past Queens County Criminal Court on May 7.
Photo by Bruce Adler
BY MARK HALLUM
Mourners filled the
Reform Temple of Forest
Hills to capacity on Tuesday
as they paid homage to
the late Queens District
Attorney Richard A. Brown,
who died Saturday after a
long battle with Parkinson’s
at 86 years old.
Mayor Bill de Blasio
recognized the lifelong
public servant who played
a role in making New York
one of the safest big cities
in the United States, and
others simply looked back
at the dedication he showed
to his job as the county’s
top prosecutor.
“We celebrate that
there’s more justice and
fairness, he was one of the
authors of that justice and
fairness,” de Blasio said.
“He was ahead of his time
in so many of the areas
that he focused on, pulling
not only the Queens DA’s
Office but so many in the
criminal justice system
to focus more on domestic
violence, to focus more
on hate crimes, to stand
up more for victims’
rights … His legacy lives
on because Queens is a
safer place.”
Brown served for 28
years in the office where he
came to be revered by many,
including acting District
Attorney Jack Ryan who
has served in the DA’s office
for much of that time.
“He was very proud of his
family, but he had another
family and that was us: the
Queens DA family,” Ryan
said. “To appreciate where
we are today as a city
and an office, we have to
remember where we were
when he became DA … He
made us better and together
we helped make the city, the
safest major city in North
America. Something that
didn’t happen by accident
and cannot be taken
for granted.”
Ryan also claimed that
under Brown, defendants
were arranged faster than
any other DA prior which
he did in an effort to send
people home rather than let
them sit in detention.
Brown announced
earlier in 2019 that he
would step down from
office, leaving Ryan in
charge, after declining
health. He already had
several challengers for the
office including Queens
Borough President Melinda
Katz, Councilman Rory
Lancman, prosecutors
Mina Malik, Jose Nieves
and Betty Lupo as well
as for public defender
Tiffany Caban.
The Democratic primary
is set for June 25.
Former Mayors David
Dinkins, 91, and Michael
Bloomberg also attended
the services.
Reach reporter Mark
Hallum by email at
mhallum@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4564.
Brown’s wife, Rhoda, receives an American flag following his funeral service in Forest Hills..
Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS
4 TIMESLEDGER, MAY 10-16, 2019 QNS.COM
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