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Growing up surrounded by law enforcement officers, and having many family members involved in this occupation, I have always carried the understanding that one of us may have to make the greatest sacrifice, the sacrifice of our life, so that others may live. Although I am angered beyond comprehension due to the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s death, I would have expected nothing less from him. If you have known Bryan for even a short period of time you quickly find out that he is the epitome of a hero, a warrior, of a deputy, and as I told him the last time I saw him, someone special; A truly incredible person.
Bryan was more than a hero; he was a great officer, friend, brother, husband and son.
I was lucky to have had the opportunity to spend a great deal of my life with Bryan, and just like many others, I have to attribute much of my character to having had Bryan in my life. Bryan was my rock, someone that was always there, willing to guide me in the proper direction or simply to listen to me vent about work and life. Bryan was one of the luckiest people that I have ever met. Besides winning the lotto, everything that he touched turned to gold, and everyone that he met was changed by having contact with him.
When Bryan was younger I think describing him as wild would be an understatement. That’s why he had the nickname of Maverick. Bryan treated life like an F-14 tomcat and he always flew everyday by the seat of his pants. There are so many great memories of these times I have with Bryan; like when he and I jumped his four door Buick in our home town, the time we drove across Secord lake in the winter in my car because it was a faster way to get to his mom’s house or skipping school to go horseback riding. In total Bryan and I had contact with the local law enforcement a record setting total of 68 times without receiving a citation or being arrested. Although, there was that one time we were placed in protective custody… not to mention all the times the police stopped at my parents’ house looking for he and I.
Now fast-forward a few years and ironically you would see my brothers and I encouraging Bryan to get into law enforcement: it was easy to see he had the knack for it. Recently, I was able to a go on a ride along with Bryan and I can recall driving a county road and having an SUV pass us traveling the other direction. Bryan, with a tooth pick in his mouth looked over at me with a raised eyebrow…which caused me to ask him “your spider sense going off”? And of course he answered “you bet ya”. This led to him then turning around on the vehicle and made a stop. And of course his intuition was right on.
Three and a half years ago my wife and I had a baby boy, Sam. As the time approached to decide on who would be his godparents my wife chose the godmother and I chose Bryan as his godfather. I always knew that if there was ever a time that I could not be there for Sam, Bryan would be able to guide Sam into being a man and take over my duties as a father to my son. I realized that I made the right choice every time that I saw them together. To this day, Sam’s face lights up whenever you bring up Uncle Boo. On his last visit to Michigan he had told my wife how he was looking forward teaching Sam how to play baseball in the summer, and then he and Sam ran around playing tag…Sam is lucky to have had Uncle Boo in his life, even if for only a short time. My wife and I are willing to go through all the growing pains with Sam that Bryan’s mother and father went through with him if our son grows up to be a great man like Bryan was.
Bryan, as you look down on us today know that there are not enough words to convey how much I will miss you brother. You have enriched my life more that I can explain and express and you will forever be an important part in my family’s life.
Officer Anthony Walters
Richfield Twp. Public Safety Department
May 9, 2012
