Former Sonoma police officer hospitalized after serious illness

The family of Michael Brown, who served as an officer for the Sonoma Police Department from 1979 to 2001, has set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for mounting medical bills incurred as he tries to recover from a life-threatening illness.

He experienced severe pain and virus-like symptoms on Thursday, Dec. 12, so his wife of 41 years, Pennie Brown, took him to Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center’s emergency room. He was given pain medication and released, but two days later his symptoms worsened dramatically, so she brought him back to the emergency room, where he was immediately admitted into the ICU unit.

Brown was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome — a rare, life-threatening condition — that was caused by strep A, bacteria that can cause mild to serious infections, usually in the skin and throat.

“He is currently intubated and still in critical condition in the ICU,” said Randal Blake, one of Brown’s sons in law. “He has suffered several mini strokes. The doctors have informed us that while his condition is slowly improving, there are still causes for concern and potentially long-term side effects.”

Blake, a physician assistant in the U.S. Army, said the main long-term concern is that Brown might need to have several fingers amputated due to the presence of necrotic tissue, which is not able to heal in any capacity.

“While Michael’s current condition is considered critical but stable, his hospital stay and treatment are expected to be long term,” he added.

This presents major challenges for his family. In 1998, Pennie suffered an injury at work, resulting in a slipped disk in her back that cut two nerves, causing permanent disabilities.

“Because of this, Michael became the family’s sole breadwinner and his wife’s full-time caregiver since he stopped working,” Blake said. “She has had countless surgeries and has been diagnosed with multiple medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases, over the years.”

Pennie uses either a walker or wheelchair due to her mobility restrictions and health issues. Michael took her to and from her medical appointments and helped her to complete daily tasks, so without his help she is facing new challenges.

They do not have a wheelchair accessible van, so Michael usually loaded and unloaded it from their vehicle.

“Pennie is unable to use her wheelchair at all now,” Blake said. “She has been living at the hospital, spending every night by his bedside, sleeping in a hospital chair. Their children are understandably concerned for her health and well-being, as well, because of the toll it is taking on her mentally and physically.”

Michael and Pennie have three children: Sarah Blake (Randal’s wife), Clark Brown and Joseph Brown. All of them attended Sonoma schools and graduated from Sonoma Valley High School.

“With me being in the military, my wife is struggling with being so far away during this critical time,” Blake said. “His sons try to visit daily, but their time off work is limited.”

He said that at this point, the family has no idea how much Michael’s medical treatments will cost.

“There is a daily co-pay on top of the two emergency room bills,” Blake said. “We won’t know what kind of therapy or rehabilitation he may require afterward, not to mention the co-pays for any follow-ups and medications. The doctors have prepared us for the possibility of weeks in the ICU and months in the hospital, overall.”

The family set up its GoFundMe account ( to help meet the expenses. As of Thursday, Jan. 2, it has received 113 donations, totaling $20,900, and aims to raise $100,000.

“Right now, the use of GoFundMe is our primary fundraising tool,” Blake said. “It’s our hope to alleviate the stress of the medical bills as well as help Michael and Pennie get a wheelchair accessible van so that Pennie is able to gain a semblance of independence while Michael begins his recovery.

“As a 67-year-old, it’s been difficult for Michael to load and unload her wheelchair already. Not knowing what mobility issues he may have as a result of his condition, a wheelchair accessible van has now become a necessity for them both, as well as hopefully having a wheelchair ramp installed at their home.”

Michael Brown was born in New York City in 1957, but his family moved to Greenwood, Mississippi, when he was a toddler, and he was raised there. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi, he moved to Sonoma in 1979, and began working as an animal control officer for the Sonoma Police Department.

He subsequently attended police academy and then worked as a patrol officer until he retired from the department. Brown then served as a security supervisor and security guard at Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (now known as Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa) before moving to Cool, California (6.7 miles southeast of Auburn) in 2005.

Blake said that Brown now spends much of his time reading and owns the most books of anyone he has ever met.

“He is constantly reading, often finishing several books in a week,” Blake said. “Because of this, he is very knowledgeable, especially when it comes to U.S. military history and sports history. He stops at every roadside marker he comes across so he can read it.”

Brown also avidly follows the San Francisco Giants and University of Southern Mississippi’s sports teams.

“And both he and Pennie have a soft spot for animals,” Blake said. “While he was working at the Sonoma Police Department, they often took in animals that were either surrendered or never claimed. At one time, they had over 20 animals they were caring for, from dogs and cats to birds, iguanas, hermit crabs, chinchillas — and even chicken and goats!”

Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at [email protected].