Montgomery County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Josh Brown was touched to find a stranger’s note of thanks and prayer on the windshield of his patrol vehicle as he was about to go on duty Tuesday afternoon. Neither Deputy Brown, nor the person who left the note, could have known he would find himself in the back of an ambulance on a gurney a few hours later.
The handwritten note said, “Thank you, for risking your life to protect mine, for leaving your family every day not knowing, so I can make it home to mine. I will be praying for your safety and family. God bless, Jana” The bottom half of the note was addressed “Dear God,” and was a prayer for Deputy Brown and for all officers, asking for their protection and for God to bless them.
Around 8:30 p.m., Deputy Brown was stopped for a red light, westbound on FM 1485, on the northbound side of US 59. A 15-year-old New Caney girl who received her learner’s permit a day earlier was out driving with her mom, when their Ford Explorer somehow plowed into Deputy Brown’s cruiser. The mother and daughter were uninjured. Medics transported Deputy Brown by ambulance to Kingwood Medical Center. He was not seriously injured.
Pct.4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden said while Deputy Brown’s wreck was an accident and probably not the kind of situation that inspired the note and prayer, it is an ever present danger for patrol deputies and can be just as deadly.
“Certainly, having your patrol vehicle struck while you’re inside is not a good thing, but it could’ve been so much worse,” Constable Hayden said. “We’re thankful to God that no one was killed or critically injured and we’re very grateful for the prayers of the young lady that left the note on Deputy Brown’s car, and to everyone who prays for us. It means more than they’ll ever know.”
Constable Hayden will be among other law enforcement and elected officials gathering with county residents for the Prayer for Police Community Event Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Conroe.
“As I’ve said before, I’m proud to serve and be part of a community that supports law enforcement and will take their valuable time to come out and stand beside us,” he said. “It’s a blessing and it’s humbling, and I wish it was like this for officers everywhere. Unfortunately, it’s not, so please pray for them too.”
Deputy Brown is second generation law enforcement, and Tuesday was his father’s first day of retirement from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. His older brother is an Humble Police Officer.
