Sheriff demos “Brown Box” prototype

By Linda Perkins

Anvil Herald reporter

Recently, Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown gave a briefing on “Brown Box” prototype #4, installed at Hondo’s  South Texas Regional Training Center (STRTC).

There, Sheriff Brown, assisted by MCSO Lieutenant of Patrol Kevin Langley, Medina County Judge Keith Lutz and Hondo Police Chief Justin Soza, showcased the box designed to aid law enforcement during an active shooter incident.

Sheriff Brown said the idea to develop the Brown Box came about in the aftermath of the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde  May 24, 2022. 

“This box was an idea after returning from Uvalde. All I did was think about the idea, but I had people that thought ‘outside the box’ get involved,” the sheriff said. 

“A box containing the tools to fight and save lives; the tools for every police officer, including city police, county deputies, DPS, game wardens, Border Patrol agents and any commissioned officer -- the ability to access those tools, is invaluable.”

“Arriving at an active shooter call, knowing you have what you need to engage, to fight safer and to stop the threat without hesitation – to me, that is priceless.”

Access cards provide entry through up to three doors or gates; however, but only after the Box has been activated. Sheriff Brown can activate the Box with his cell phone from wherever he is. He has the only card that can reset the Box following an inventory after an incident.

Hondo Police Chief Soza added that his card will allow access into a facility, however only if the Box has already been activated. 

“Should anyone scan their card when the Box is inactive, it sends a report to dispatch at the sheriff’s office,” the chief said.

“The Box uses the same technology on all county doors,” Judge Lutz commented. “Every card swipe  is recorded, and the person trying to gain access is identified.

“The Box is hooked up to the Internet through the Cloud.” It also has batteries  that will operate it for 24 hours in the event the electricity goes down.   

Commenting on how the Box is activated,  the sheriff said, “It only becomes active when a teacher, peace officer or dispatcher pushes the panic button they are wearing. I  can activate the Box at any time with my cell phone.

“When the Box becomes active, it also activates cameras that relay images from the incident site back to dispatch. This gives dispatch the ability watch  and report back to whomever is responding,” Sheriff Brown said.

Continuing his demonstration, the sheriff said, “The Box itself acts as a shield for law enforcement since its door is bullet-proof. The officer can shelter behind the door while getting saddled up to ride.” 

While the Box was open,  he displayed examples of tools it can contain, including two, body  shields, breaching tools such as a sledgehammer, storage space for handguns and rifles, rounds of ammunition and Stop-the-Bleed first-aid packets. 

Before ending the briefing, Sheriff Brown said the next version of the prototype will be wider. The intent is to seek out manufacturers who will construct larger quantities of the Box. His plan is to install them in all schools across the county.