Eugene A. Brown

Who is Eugene A. Brown?

Eugene A. Brown was the Sheriff of the City and County of San Francisco from 1978-79. He was appointed by Mayor George Moscone in February 1978 after the abrupt resignation of then-Sheriff Richard Hongisto. His tenure was marked by the turmoil of the assassinations of Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, as well as the Jonestown Massacre of People's Temple adherents, the majority of whom were from the Bay Area. He was defeated in his bid for a full term as sheriff by Michael Hennessey in the fall of 1979. Prior to being appointed Sheriff, he worked in the United States Department of Justice and was a civil rights director in the Small Business Administration.