GUERNSEY – Coming back to the Guernsey police department is not only a familiar position, but one that feels like “coming home,” according to Guernsey police officer Michael Brown.

Brown was born in Cheyenne before being raised in Denver with his father for a short time before moving back to Cheyenne to live with his grandparents.

“I was there for quite a few years and then I came up to Guernsey where I attended the youth challenge program as a cadet and I went through the program here and that’s how I originally ended up coming to Guernsey first,” Brown said. “Immediately upon graduating from the youth challenge program I enlisted at the age of 17 in the Army.”

After Brown finished basic training at Fort Sill, Okla., he began his active duty and was stationed in Colorado Springs although he also served in Korea and Hawaii as part of his job.

As a local graduate, Brown is one of the success stories of the Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy.

“Growing up as a young man, I didn’t make the best decisions,” he said. “I kind of struggled in life, but I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to go to the youth challenge program and at that time, it was a big turning point in my life.”

At that point of his life, Brown was experiencing “defining moments,” one of which was the passing of his grandfather who not only helped raise and shape him, but was his hero. Before his death, Brown made a promise to his dying mentor that he would enlist and begin to change his life.

“At that point when I graduated the program, I stuck to it and then enlisted in the Army,” Brown said. “I didn’t want to waste any time.”

Brown’s grandfather, a construction worker, was originally from Texas settled in Cheyenne who instilled family values into him that left quite an impact.

“He was more of my father figure growing up, because my dad was kind of in and out,” Brown said. “So that was the man I had to look up to. He was a great, hard-working man who took care of all my aunts and uncles and my grandmother.”

As Brown has grown and matured, he looks back on many of the things that prepared him to be the man he is today.

“One of the biggest things I took from my grandfather was the reality that family is everything,” Brown said. “No matter what, you stand by your family and always be there for each other. Also to be a good father. The way he treated my aunts and uncles and grandmother was just phenomenal. Just a very hard-working man until he got cancer and passed away. He was always there if I needed him.”

Brown mentioned the death of his grandfather was a huge eye-opener for him and he was instrumental in his life as he had been placed in Normative Services in Sheridan, as a juvenile.

“I went there and still didn’t have the best head on my shoulders,” Brown said. “And I got into a little bit of trouble when I was in Cheyenne. The judge looked at me and told me I was at a turning point. He told me I had to do something with my life, and my grandfather had just passed.”

The judge that pretty much held Brown’s immediate life in his judicial hands asked Brown about his goals for life. At that point, Brown expressed his desire to be in the military. The judge saw something in Brown and decided to give him a second chance. After the graduation from the youth challenge program and immediate enlistment into the military, Brown had his complete juvenile record expunged.

Initially Brown was in the National Guard for the first year working in recruiting and retention. He then realized the lifestyle not only made him happy, but that it was what he wanted to pursue and he opted for full-time duty and was stationed in Colorado Springs.

Brown had almost five years in active duty in addition to the year he was in the National Guard. While in Hawaii, Brown fulfilled the term of his duty and he opted out of the military and came back home to Guernsey where he filled an open position to be a Cadre at the Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy.

After speaking with his wife Katie, they decided on purchasing a home in Guernsey and the couple have three boys, 12, 9 and 7 years of age. 

Brown had always had a desire to be in law enforcement and was hired to be a Guernsey police officer when Dwight McGuire was the police chief. At the time of his hire, David Smith, current Guernsey police chief had also come aboard to the police department and the two became friends and partners. After an 11-month appointment in Guernsey, Brown joined the Platte County Sheriff Department and worked there for just over two years.

When Smith became police chief in Guernsey, it created an opening for another officer and Brown, who was familiar with not only the position, but felt a kinship with Smith, interviewed and was hired.

“I love the town,” Brown said. “And Dave being here as the chief and I consider him a great boss and great leader I knew I’d love to work for him. So I went for it even though I had to give up my position at the sheriff’s office which I loved and had the rank of sergeant.”

Being in Guernsey for a number of years and being in a place that held many memories and shaped his destiny, coming back to Guernsey was like coming home, he said. 

“It’s a great place to raise our family,” Brown said. “And I am so fortunate to be a police officer in a small town. I love it.”

Brown was officially sworn into his position at the Guernsey Town Council meeting Sept. 8.