Congratulations Brett

Tomorrow morning, the Des Moines Police Department will graduate a new class of officers.  I believe there are thirteen well trained people ready to take the oath to serve and protect the citizens of this city.
Over the past fourteen years, I have had the great honor to know many people that have taken this oath.  They are now dear friends, one is family.  And in November, one that takes the oath tomorrow becomes family.
For the past two years, I have watched and waited with Brett and Hayley as Brett went through what I am sure felt like endless application processes.  Danny took the same path many years ago and we could sympathize with Brett and Hayley as they felt like they were spinning the wheels of their future.  I especially sympathized with Hayley as she took on the same role I held as Danny applied and I cheered his progress, consoled his wounded pride when he was rejected and damned the departments that turned him down.  Hayley moved across the state with Brett as he pursued his dreams.  They ended up back in central Iowa where their dreams finally came to be.
Tomorrow Brett graduates from the Des Moines Police Academy and Danny and I could not be prouder of him.  Having inside knowledge, we know how hard he worked and how well he did.  We know that even though he may feel like "White's future son in law" Brett has made a name for himself through his hard work, his strength and most importantly, his character.
In recent years, it has sometimes felt like the public's perception of law enforcement officers was waning.  The media did an excellent job of making police look like the enemy.  The silent majority became silent no longer as cities found themselves in the middle of officer ambushes.   Officers found themselves knee deep in flowers, donuts, pizzas, cold drinks and warm hugs.  And the men and women that were filling out applications, doing sit ups, running miles, taking tests, talking to hiring boards and psychiatrists and polygraph administrators, waiting for the next call, waiting to hear back if they passed the test, made the grade had the points.  Waiting to hear if precertified, former military, college graduated, female, minority all had the advantage.  Some putting their lives on hold for two years to finally get the call that they, upon completion of the academy, will be Des Moines Police Officers.  Brett is one of those.  And if you are a citizen of Des Moines, let me tell you how fortunate you are to have another outstanding officer take to your streets.
Brett is kind and intelligent.  He is not full of himself.  He is not prideful.  He is hard working and patient.  He has put down roots in this community and is invested in its success.  Brett is really nice, the kind of guy that old ladies will swoon over and young kids will want to talk to.  He is the kind of man that I like knowing will respond to a call.  He has the ability to talk people through a situation but also has the ability to stop a situation from escalating.  He is smart enough to know that he doesn't know it all, not even close and he will, through his FTO, his fellow officers, superiors and future father in law, keep learning.
Congratulations Brett!  We love you and are proud of this and all your accomplishments!