The following was a speech given by Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller to the MOISD Career Center?.

 

I was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan. Growing up, my family life was stable and loving. Between my freshman and sophomore years of high school my parents separated, and eventually divorced. At that time, my life, and the person I was changed. Although I didn’t see it at the time, I changed. I had always been a happy-go-lucky kid who was well liked by my classmates and well behaved. No longer having the stability and structure at home, changed me. I became angry, quick to lose my temper, getting in fights at school, which led to getting suspended. I began skipping school, and my grades suffered as a result. I did just enough in school to keep my grades just good enough to play sports. As divorces go, my parents handled it in the most mature way they could, never bringing my brother and I in the middle of the two of their disputes. I was just a lost soul without any kind of direction or goals.

I found myself again after starting college. In the fall of 1990, I started classes at Ferris State University. This is where I feel I really matured. I became a resident advisor in the residence halls. This taught me responsibility, time management, but most importantly, leadership. I would tell anyone who is in college and needs financial assistance in realizing their dream of earning a college degree to do this, become a residential advisor. It was my need for financial assistance that led me to applying for that position and it paid off for me. Being an RA took care of my room and board. I worked in a shop on an assembly line back home during summer break, which helped pay my tuition. I then worked night
security in the dorm, which gave me a little spending money. With all of this, when I graduated from college, I had just over $4,000 in student loans and debt to pay off. Looking back, this is one of the biggest turning points in my life, and where I learned to stand on my own two feet and begin to be the leader I am today. The ball was in my court. It was up to me whether I would be successful or not. So, I learned the study skills and I did the work needed to be academically successful.

Life is all about being on a proverbial roller coaster, both personally and professionally. Sometimes you are at the peak of the ride when things are going well, and other times you feel like you are falling fast, and there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel. We just need to remember there will be better days, and that life is just testing you, preparing you for success. This was never more evident than after graduating from college. The job market was much different in 1995. There was a lot of competition for the few jobs there were in law enforcement at that time. I began working security at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, living with a couple of college buddies. I worked the night shift, and during the day would put out applications and attend interviews for jobs. It got to be fall, and I had not had any offers yet. I vividly remember calling my mom and crying like a baby about the lack of success I was seeing. I continued to work hard, and one day my perseverance paid off. It was in January of 1996, when I was offered a job with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety.

It was there I adopted the warrior mind set. I never allowed myself to be outworked and had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity and did not want to take it for granted. It was there where I also developed the three pillars that support me in my life, and the same pillars I attempt to instill in my two sons. These pillars upheld me during my time at Big Rapids and now at the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office. I would like to share these pillars with you today if that is alright with you.

Number one is whatever you choose to do in life, you had better work hard at it. There is no place for doing anything in life at half effort. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you look back and regret the fact you could have done more. Do everything to the best of your ability.

Number two is don’t make excuses. When you make a mistake, take responsibility for it, own it. Everyone makes mistakes. When it happens, get out ahead of it, and learn from it.

Number three is concern yourself with you and not what everyone else is doing. Too often in our world people are worried about what everyone else is doing, when we should be figuring out how to be a better you. The
more time you spend on comparing yourself to everyone else, the less time you spend on self-reflection.

However, be wise, be aware of those other folks around you and what their intentions or agendas might be. Don’t let who you have been in the past hold you back from being the best person and leader you can be. I had been working at the BRDPS for a couple of years, when me and a couple of my high school buddies went to watch our high school football team play in the state playoffs. We ran into a girl we had gone to school with, and she inquired about what I was doing for a career. When I told her a police officer, she turned to her husband and said, “no way should he be a police officer”, referencing the lost and sometimes troubled teenager I had been when we were in school together. I have always remembered this, knowing and being proud of where I have continued to be in my life. I am where I am because of God, the upbringing I had, my wife, Heather and two boys, Cameron and Cooper, and the friends I have surrounded myself with. I have learned to respect who I am, and in turn I respect those around me. This is something else I have made sure to instill in my boys. Be a hero to yourself and continue to chase being the best person you can be.

I worked at the BRDPS for 25 years. During my time there I worked on the road for three years, was on the drug team for a year, worked seven years as our school resource officer and the last 14 there as our detective. The reason I had the success that I had was because of the time and effort I put into each of the positions, and my ability to work with others. You cannot be successful in this world without being able to work together. I always went out of my way to work with other law enforcement officers,
especially those at the BRDPS. Whether it was working alongside them, or providing guidance, in the long run we were all better for it.

It is extremely important to me to give back to the community I am part of. I have always found time to coach youth sports, whether it is rocketing football, middle school basketball, or Little League and travel baseball. It is rewarding to me to see the impact it makes on today’s youth while watching them grow as individuals on and off the court/field/diamond. Coachable youth will be employable young people and adults later in life.

Also important to me through the years, although a little more difficult for me to attend, has been being a part of civil service organizations in our community. They make our communities stronger, more interesting and engaging to all who live and visit here. It gives a person an opportunity to give back and have the satisfaction you are doing something positive in the community he/she lives in. This is especially important for our young people to step up, due to the age of a lot of the members of some of these organizations and the dwindling membership.

In 2020, I made the decision to run for sheriff. During the campaign, on occasion, some of my friends and loved ones would get hurt and be defensive of me when those I was running against or someone in the public would not have so nice things to say about me. My reply to her was always, “let it be.” I knew who I was. I was confident in the job I had done in law enforcement and the way I lived my life and I was not going to apologize for or defend myself to anyone. I didn’t feel the need to do so.

I had never given it any kind of consideration to run for sheriff, being happy to be the detective at the BRDPS. This is what I had gone into police work to do. I could have stayed there another 10 years and been perfectly happy. However, having friends at and working with members of the sheriff’s office, I felt like I could make a difference there and make it a better place to work. If workers feel appreciated for the job they do, they will do a better job for the public they are protecting and serving. Now, in my fourth year there, and looking towards another four-year term, every day I am striving to do the best job I can and be the leader that is respected and looked up to by my staff and the people of Mecosta County.

Who am I? I am Officer Brian, Coach Miller, Detective Miller, and Sheriff Miller. More importantly when my time on this earth is done, I am just Brian, a loving and loyal husband, father, and friend. The title is just that and can be gone tomorrow. What is important to me is all in my hand. My wedding band, which has a thin blue line to honor the profession that I hold close to my hear, and the ring I wear on my right pinkie, which is the Lord’s prayer. My faith, family, and profession. This is what is important to me and helped make me the leader I am. As you move into adulthood, aspire to make a difference, not a living. You will be a more happy person and leader for it.