Columbiana city patrolman Sheldon Brownfield takes a closer look at the contents of a searched vehicle, after providing backup to a State Highway Patrol traffic stop at the intersection of state Routes 7 and 46. Brownfield has been a full-time officer with the City of Columbiana since 2021. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

COLUMBIANA — Close to home is where Sheldon Brownfield returned to serve, after finishing a stint in the military.

After growing up in the Lisbon and Salem areas, the 2013 Salem High School graduate joined the U.S. Army, serving as a military police officer for six years.

“It was a great learning experience,” Brownfield explained. It translated into his joining Columbiana City Police Auxiliary in 2019 before eventually being hired part-time in 2020 and full-time in September 2021.

Drug interdiction is Brownfield’s niche area — and those holidays potentially with a lot of substance abuse, whether it be alcohol or illegal drug consumption –tend to be busy. Especially since a lot of state routes like 7, 14, 46 and 11 tend to go through Columbiana jurisdiction.

“St. Patrick’s Day weekend was wild this year,” he noted.

Unlike many who have a fascination with drug investigative work, Brownfield has no aspirations to be a K9 officer himself.

“K9 work is 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days-a-year jobs,” he explained that he would prefer to just be partnered with a K9 handler with a high drive dog.

Still relatively new in the field on the streets, Brownfield, however, does aspire to be assigned to a Special Response Team. “I am just working my way up to it,” he added.

Despite it still being early in his career, Brownfield has been racking up the awards and commendations. Last year, Columbiana recognized him for OVI enforcement, traffic safety and criminal patrol efforts as well as giving him a commendation for his actions the night handling a distraught and suicidal youth in the station’s parking lot.

This is the second year that he had been recognized for OVI enforcement, traffic safety and criminal patrol efforts — reflective of his proactive nature on the job.

Brownfield also holds certifications for EMS and fire, having served previously in departments like Perry Township for 10 years.

In his spare time, the SHS alumnus enjoys the outdoors and doing activities like golfing, fishing and shooting.