The head of West Midlands fire department, Wayne Brown, was discovered deceased at his residence in Birmingham. Officials have stated that his passing is not considered to be suspicious. There were rumors on social media about his educational credentials that were being looked into.
Greg Brackenridge, chair of West Midlands fire and rescue authority, said the fire service’s thoughts were with his family. “We are devastated to report that our chief fire officer, Wayne Brown, was this morning found dead at his home address,” he said. “The death is not being treated as suspicious by West Midlands police.
Our thoughts and love are with his family, friends, and colleagues. We kindly request that his family and colleagues are given the necessary time and space during this unfortunate time.
Earlier, the fire service stated that they are aware of claims regarding their chief fire officer and West Midlands fire service.
“We are currently conducting formal investigations and procedures in accordance with our fire authority’s constitution in response to the issues raised. We will ensure that this is done thoroughly and fairly. In the meantime, we will refrain from making any further statements.”
The police in West Midlands stated that they responded to a location in Birmingham this morning and discovered the deceased body of a man in his 50s. The death is not believed to be suspicious and we are working with the local coroner. A formal identification will occur at a later time.
Our thoughts are with the man’s family as they are receiving support from specialized officers during this time.
According to the BBC, Brown was part of a legal dispute where a man faced charges of harassing him.
Based on the information provided on the West Midlands fire service website, he began his profession as a firefighter in east London and served for 27 years in the London fire brigade, eventually reaching the rank of assistant commissioner.
In November 2019, he became the deputy chief fire officer at West Midlands and oversaw community risk reduction. He then assumed the role of chief fire officer in January 2023.
According to the website, Brown has participated in major events in the UK such as the London terrorist attacks and the Grenfell Tower fire. The website also mentions that he used to be a professional football player and holds Uefa coaching certifications.
This report was contributed by PA Media.
Source: theguardian.com
