BROOKINGS Law enforcement is a family affair at the Brookings Police Department quite literally, as longtime BPD Officer Joshua Schneider was recently joined by his son, Officer Drayden Schneider.
Its natural that police work and family dynamics might overlap on occasion in such situations and that includes the father offering his son tips.
“Any advice that he wants, Im there to help him with, Joshua told the Brookings Register in a recent interview. I check up on him during his training he probably doesnt know it with his people hes training with just to see how hes doing, if theres anything I need to talk to him about or to address or to try to help with.
Beyond that, they do their best to observe limits. “For the most part, we try not to cross a lot of family with work, Joshua said.
Drayden agreed with his fathers assessment.
He put it pretty cut and clear right there. Obviously, hes the most comfortable guy if I ever have any questions … which is a huge plus to have working in this police department, he said. (Still), we try not to cross paths as much, (and) just keep it professional.
All that said, having a mentor-like relationship with his father as he learns the ways of law enforcement is something Drayden cherishes.
Absolutely. It helps a lot, he said.
Making his choice
Draydens interest in fighting crime and helping his community via police work was a development that didnt come up overnight but rather percolated over the years.
It wasnt like a specific moment, he said. Ive kind of always had law enforcement in my life, so its kind of always been a thought in the back of my head of something like maybe I wanted to do in the future, maybe follow his footsteps.
In high school for the longest time I had no idea what I wanted to do I never even thought about law enforcement,” Drayden continued. Senior year, one of my friends, he said he was doing law enforcement and it kind of just popped in my head, Maybe thatd be something Id be good at with all the experience Ive had in my life with my Dad and his friends, growing up around them. Maybe Ill give it shot and maybe Ill love it and so far, its been great.
Draydens decision caught his father unawares, but Joshua is now certain his son is capable of having an illustrious career in law enforcement.
I was surprised. Id never really heard him talk about going into law enforcement until one day he said thats what he was going to school for, Joshua said. I was happy. I think its a field not for everybody you have to have kind of the right personality for it, and I feel he does. If I didnt think he would have been good at it, I would have had that conversation and said, Hey, Ive been in this long enough I know what kind of people it takes to do this job but I dont have that feeling with him. I think hell be just fine. I was happy with it.
While law enforcement isnt a tradition in the Schneiders immediate family, Joshuas nieces husband is in law enforcement in Watertown, and there is also some military service on Joshuas wifes side of the family.
Drayden is one of four children, so it could become a tradition, but only time will tell.
Ive got three other kids, and who knows what theyll end up doing, Joshua said.
Drayden’s siblings are two brothers and a sister: One brother is a junior, the sister is in eighth grade, and his youngest brother is in sixth grade. All go to school in Brookings.
Since Joshua is a school resource officer, it can be interesting at times.
Keeping up with all of them, making sure theyre doing what theyre supposed to be doing, so its kind of nice, Joshua said.
Reducing worries, stress
Naturally, having family members involved in law enforcement can come with a degree of stress thats unique to the people involved, but a little bit of knowledge goes far in reducing that stress.
I think just knowing what hes doing every day is a little takes a little bit of the stress off knowing what calls hes going to because Im working Monday through Friday usually, Joshua said. If hes on days, I hear what kind of call hes going to; if I feel like I should go to that call to help, I can go, too. I think that takes a little bit of stress off. My wife has no idea what either of us are doing throughout the day, so I think its probably more stressful on her end (rather) than on my end.
Drayden shared similar thoughts.
Its kind of the same thing: If were working together … we kind of know where each other are, so you dont really have to be worried, he said. The people we work with are great, too. If theres ever a situation, Im not worried. If hes not available, I know Ive got other great officers with me.
Joshuas shifts are always dayside because of his work as an SRO. Drayden is still in training, so his schedule varies, but in time he will rotate to nights, and it will be monthly in nature. He expects to wrap up his field training in November.
I dont go to nights anymore, which is nice. I did my time doing nights, Joshua said, father and son laughing.
A bit of a speedster
There was more humor when Joshua was asked if hed ever given speeding tickets to his son before Drayden joined the BPD.
Did I ever? I did not, but some of my friends have, Joshua said, laughing.
Whoops! Drayden added, laughing as well. One of them I was going a pretty decent I thought I was 10 over what I was supposed to be, but I was going 15 over, technically.
Did he have to pay for the ticket, or did Dad?
I dont remember, to be honest, Jayden said, smiling.
I dont either. Might have been a warning, Joshua added, laughing. Both of my older boys have been stopped by my friends.
Does his daughter have a lead foot? Shes not driving yet, so I think shell be good, Joshua said, laughing.
Calmness, empathy important
Returning to a more serious vein, Joshua paused, thinking, when asked about the most serious advice hed given his son regarding police work since Drayden joined the BPD.
I would say just remaining calm. Being calm and relying on your skills and your training will go a long way, Joshua said. Its a job where things can get heated quickly, so I think being calm with him having that calm personality like I do goes a long way. I know de-escalation is kind of a big thing with people nowadays. If you have that demeanor, its much easier to de-escalate that situation.
Empathy certainly has a role in de-escalating situations.
Absolutely. He has that we do have people usually on their worst day. Theres not a lot of times we go to peoples houses where theyre having a party and theyre inviting us in, Joshua said. They generally dont want us there. Just being able to understand this persons having a rough day and this isnt maybe how theyre always acting.
Thats where that empathy does (come into) play you (have to) relate to them: Hey, you know, Ive had arguments with my wife before. Just being able to talk with that person; (were) not necessarily going there looking to arrest right away its just trying to help them and make their situation better, Joshua finished.
Goals lined up
Looking to the years and decades ahead in his still-young career, Drayden certainly has an end goal hes striving toward: Namely, he wants to join the ranks of detectives in the Brookings Police Department.
Thats just where I want to end my career, he said.
Drayden said a lot of work goes into becoming a detective, and that hes still learning about all the requirements.
All I know is that they want you to get your experience through the field talking to people, putting yourself out there, getting known to the community, he said. I just want to get the experience being able to have conversations with everyone in all circumstances.
These activities can include Coffee with a Cop, among other things.
Just going into a gas station, just talking to people, asking how their day has been, talking to cashiers, walking through Walmart, walking around downtown talking to all the college kids.
Over the next five to 10 years, though, Drayden sees himself sticking around the area doing patrol and perhaps pursuing the rank of corporal a big maybe on that last possibility, though.
Keeping Brookings safe
In closing, the Schneiders took a moment to reflect on life in Brookings and why the community is so attractive to not only longtime residents, but newly arriving residents as well.
Theres a reason why Brookings has been growing so much: Its a good town, its a safe town, its a clean town, Joshua said. I feel we have one of the better law enforcement agencies in the state again, which is why I think our population is growing: People feel safe when coming to Brookings.
Chuckling a bit, he added, Now having us two, its going to be even safer.
Drayden agreed with fathers assessment.
I do think we are the best agency in South Dakota, from how we train to just how we handle calls and all of that good stuff, Drayden said. Brookings is a great place to be. Im super excited to be a law enforcement officer here this is the place where I want to be, where I want to grow up, where I want my kids to grow up eventually. Its a great place and Im happy to be here.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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