By Emily Gillespie
The Columbian
VANCOUVER, Wash. — When Mike Kesler retired after 25 years as a Washington State Patrol trooper, he didn’t think his sons had any interest in police work.
But a few years later, his middle son, Brandon, told him he was going to take the written and physical test to become a trooper. A few years after that, his youngest son, Shane, followed suit and also applied.
“I was shocked, but I was proud,” Mike Kesler, 58, said. “That was the first I heard of it. ... If I knew that they were interested in it, I could still be working there right now.”
His sons grew up seeing their dad enjoy his career as a trooper. Mike Kesler said he was good at getting drunk drivers off of the road; he had fun helping build the license investigation unit and enjoyed helping guide new troopers as a field training officer. The last few years of his career, he was the agency’s public information officer, so Brandon and Shane Kesler grew up hearing his voice on television as he told viewers what the traffic conditions were like.
But their dad never “brought it home,” the brothers said. Their dad coached them in sports and rarely talked about the stresses of enforcing laws. Before Mike Kesler handed in his badge in 2008, Brandon Kesler went on a ride-along with his father.
“I knew what he did, but actually experiencing it, really seeing what he did -- that sparked an interest in it,” he said.
At the time, Brandon Kesler was studying to be a teacher. Looking back on that now, he said, he’s glad he became a trooper. No two days are the same, and nothing is mundane, he said.
After Brandon Kesler was hired by State Patrol and was in the training academy, Mike Kesler had an idea.
“I thought, you know what would be nice? If my boy could get my badge and keep it in the family,” Mike Kesler said.
The badge had been reissued to another trooper, but Mike Kesler made a few phone calls and eventually got the badge assigned to his son. The response to his request, Mike Kesler said, showed that the agency understood the importance of family.
“It was in our family for 25 years, and now it has the opportunity to be in our family for another 25 years,” he said.
After about six years on the job, Brandon Kesler has come to find the same joys in his career that his father did.
“I’m passionate about impaired driving. I enjoy removing impaired drivers from the road. To me, it’s rewarding,” the 29-year-old said. “As your career progresses, you see the consequences of it. ... No one likes going to fatal crashes. It drives you even more to prevent that stuff. They’re called collisions, not accidents.”
Mike Kesler said he still remembers what Shane said when he told him he was going to apply to be a trooper.
“He said, ‘Dad, I saw how happy you were and I see how happy Brandon is. I want to be happy too,’ ” Mike Kesler said.
Shane Kesler’s story on how he became inspired to become a trooper was similar to his older brother’s -- it happened on a ride-along.
“It kind of just clicked,” the 26-year-old said. “Even getting a speeding ticket can have an impact. It may seem like something small, but it can prevent something really big.”
After a few years of working in different parts of the state, the two brothers now work together covering the Vancouver area. They even work on the same shift.
“Brandon’s the big brother, and he really encouraged Shane to come work in the same detachment,” Mike Kesler said. “He wanted to make sure he was part of a good team. I think that they’re closer now than when they were growing up.”
The two spend their work day hearing the other’s voice over the radio and responding to the same collisions, teaming up for the investigation. When they’re not working, they meet up to have dinner with their families or to watch football.
“We could essentially work the rest of our careers together,” Brandon Kesler said. “Who knows what’s in store in terms of promotions, and we may have other interest and may take different directions, but I enjoy what we’re doing now.”
Whenever they travel to different parts of the state for training, the brothers are recognized by their names because of their dad.
“We can’t go anywhere without somebody knowing him,” Brandon Kesler said. “We laugh about it.”
Though Mike Kesler said he wouldn’t care if they had chosen different careers, he said that he’s proud of his boys.
When he talks to his sons, he said, he gets moments of deja vu. For example they tell him stories of stopping at home on their breaks and having to quickly change uniforms after one of their kids burped up on them. He remembers doing the same when they were babies.
“I’ve had the opportunity to ride with each one of them, and they want to show dad how proud they are to be part of it,” Mike Kesler said.
All three of the Keslers describe working at the State Patrol as being part of a family -- something Brandon and Shane Kesler are continuing.
“In this job, you know somebody’s always got your back, but my brother has always had my back,” Shane Kesler said.