TAYLORSVILLE — Brett Miller's love for police work was planted by his dad.
His father, Scott Miller, has been a police officer for 29 years. In those years he also raised a family, and his son seemed destined to follow in his path.
"As a kid, I remember watching my dad get together with his friends to tell stories and getting to ride in the patrol cars," Brett Miller said. "I thought it was cool."
Scott Miller said his son always has been interested in his line of work.
"When he was young he used to ride along with me and tried to take all the positive things he could learn, not only from me but from my colleagues," Scott Miller said.
After high school, Brett Miller began his career in law enforcement by joining the Marine Corps. After four years of serving as a military officer, he worked for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department for three years. He is now a detective with the directed enforcement unit of the Taylorsville Police Department.
Brett Miller was recently honored by the city for his police work. On Oct. 24, he located a missing 6-week-old baby who was in the back seat of a car when the vehicle was stolen.
He found the baby in the vehicle, which had been abandoned in the parking lot of Overlook Apartments at about 4700 South and 3500 West. The baby was still in the back seat, unhurt and sleeping.
It was the first Amber Alert case he had been directly involved with.
"It was a good feeling to be able to help," Brett Miller said. "I was relieved and glad."
His son's efforts came as no surprise to Scott Miller, who said Brett does not shy away from violence or dangerous situations.
Last January, Scott Miller said, his son responded to a domestic violence call and was shot in the head. He was hospitalized but fully recovered. And the incident did not change the way he feels about police work.
Brett Miller predicted he will be in law enforcement for the rest of his life.
"I'm an adrenaline junkie, so there's nothing like a good call to respond to," he said. "It's never the same and you never know what to expect."
Brett Miller said his unit focuses on narcotics and covers any other problems that need to be addressed.
Taylorsville police Sgt. Keith Stephens has been Brett Miller's supervisor since April.
"As far as being an officer, he's the pinnacle of what an officer should be," Stephens said.
Scott Miller said his son joined the Marine Corps on his own and saw it as a way to become a police officer at 19 instead of waiting until he was 21. He said his son is committed to doing his job well every day.
"Brett is one that is dedicated far beyond the normal work day," he said. "There is a relatively small percentage who come to work with that energy and dedication day after day."
Stephens said Brett Miller has perfected a variety of skills.
"All officers should work to have these abilities," Stephens said.
Brett Miller's abilities have come from discipline and training.
"He has an ability to be in the right place at the right time," Stephens said. "It's not luck, its not a sixth sense, it's hard work."
Taylorsville Detective Tracy Wyant has worked with Brett Miller since April but has known him for about 2 1/2 years. He said it has been a rewarding experience to work with him.
"He's one of those detectives that is a cop at heart," Wyant said. "He sets the bar very high."
Wyant said Brett Miller has a knack for finding stolen vehicles and narcotics and dealing with perpetrators.
"How he deals with the perpetrators definitely enhances his ability to take a case from start to finish," Wyant said.
Scott Miller agreed.
"That's probably what sets Brett apart from other officers. If he's willing to spend those extra few moments, then he's a step ahead of the game — and in many cases a step ahead of the bandits," Scott Miller said.
Scott Miller has a similar reputation. Wyant calls him a "legend" on the Taylorsville force.
"He was quite notorious for his police skills, and Brett is cut from that mold," Wyant said.
Scott Miller said he and his son are blessed with the ability to recall details.
"A lot of it comes from the willingness to talk to people," Scott Miller said. "I found a long time ago if an officer is willing to take time to talk to the bandits and show a little bit of respect, it's amazing what they'll tell."
Scott Miller said what suspects want to do is explain themselves to someone who will listen.
"Even the worst of the worst are just hoping that someone will give them the opportunity to tell their story," Scott Miller said.
"The ultimate in law enforcement, for me, is to know when, where and by whom a crime is going to be committed before it happens," Scott Miller said. "Sometimes it's an informant or a hunch. But the bottom line is information, intelligence."
Scott Miller retired as a sergeant from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department a year ago but came back to law enforcement in April to work with his son.
"The opportunity opened up in Taylorsville to work as an officer and I wasn't about to pass up the chance to work with my kid for a while," he said.
Scott Miller couldn't have been more proud when his son's actions quite possibly saved the life of an infant. He said his son always has been concerned for the well-being of his community.
"Brett cares deeply about people, regardless of whether they are the finest upstanding citizens around or criminals," Scott Miller said. "He wants to make society a better place to live and is willing to give his life to accomplish that."
E-mail: tdemasters@desnews.com