Sergeant Brown receives the award for his heroic actions in saving the life of a woman during an attempted murder by her estranged boyfriend. On September 6, 2011, Sergeant Brown noticed a couple fighting inside a speeding vehicle on an interstate highway. He pursued the vehicle until the driver abruptly drove it into the Indian River, where it stopped in waist-deep water, approximately 100 feet from shore.
Sergeant Brown radioed for fire rescue units, then rushed into the river toward the partially submerged vehicle, where the man was stabbing the woman repeatedly. Sergeant Brown managed to get close enough to fire six shots at the suspect without hitting the victim. He then broke the passenger window, pulled the victim from the vehicle, and carried her to shore where paramedics began administering aid.
After medical treatment, surgery, and a long hospital stay, the victim recovered from her injuries. The assailant died as a result of his wounds.