Did stolen guns prompt Brown’s resignation?

January 18, 2012

Morro Bay Police department is looking for a new police officer.

That’s because Paul Brown, one-time San Luis Obispo restaurateur and city council member, has resigned from his officer-training position with the Morro Bay Police department.

Officials said Brown turned in his resignation Wednesday; no reason has been forthcoming.

Brown was in the ninth week of a 14-week field training session when CalCoastNews reported he had left an unregistered 38 caliber revolver and a loaded semi-automatic pistol in the center console of his personal car when he went home for the evening. Brown discovered the guns were missing and reported the theft to the San Luis Obispo Police department.

The Morro Bay department is still in the process of investigating that occurrence, and officials would not say if the resignation was connected to the stolen guns incident.

One of the weapons was said by Brown to have been registered to his father, who died two years ago. He said he was in the process of registering it in his name.

“I left my car unlocked,” he said after the theft. “I wish I could relive the moment.”

The Department of Justice recommends gun owners store their weapons in a safe and secure place and keep ammunition in a different location to prevent unauthorized use. In this case, the semi-automatic had a bullet in the chamber and the revolver had ammunition stored next to it.

Brown was the longtime owner of Mothers Tavern, and made an unsuccessful bid for mayor of San Luis Obispo.