WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Nov. 10, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Fallen West Valley City police officer Cody Brotherson was, by all accounts, a simple hometown guy.
Born and raised in West Valley City and a graduate of Granger High, the “smart, funny and dedicated cop,” as his friends and family have described him — just 25 years old — had a feel for his city and the people who lived there.
They were his friends, his neighbors, his high school chums. Last week, hundreds of those same people turned out at a candlelight vigil to let the world know how they feel about Brotherson. Many had known him since childhood.
“I first met Cody on the playground by my Mom’s house. He grew up down the street, and I always had the biggest crush on him. I thought he was so cute,” said Vanessa Harmon-Wayment, smiling as she wiped away a tear. “I’d call him like 20 times a day to see if he could play. I’m sure I bugged him really badly,” she said, laughing.
“But it was awesome just to grow up with him. Back in junior high and elementary school, he always wanted to serve and help others. He was just an amazing person, and wherever he went, he was always looking to help people. Even when we played cops and robbers as kids — and he always wanted to play cops and robbers — he was obviously the cop.
“When I woke up to the report that he’d been killed, I was shocked. I was going through my Facebook page, and I saw his picture and it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s Cody.”
Wendy Reed had the same reaction. She didn’t know Brotherson personally, but felt compelled to attend his vigil. She said as a member of the biker group Patriot Guard Riders, showing support for Brotherson and his extended law enforcement family was the least she could do.
“When I heard the news, I was devastated,” Reed said. “Whenever anyone standing on our front lines goes down, it affects everybody. It has a ripple effect, and it never really ends, it just goes on and on.”
Brotherson, a three-year veteran of the West Valley Police Department, died in the line of duty in the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 6, hit and killed while trying to spike the tires of a stolen car as the three juveniles inside tried to run from police. As of Wednesday, the suspects, a 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds, still awaited charges in juvenile detention.
West Valley City Police Officer Austin Kimball is still reeling from the news of his partner’s death, which came in the middle of the night. He and Brotherson had been working graveyard shifts together on and off for two and a half years, a time Kimball says he will cherish forever.
“I had the honor or working with Cody … and I can honestly say the times with him were some of the best times of my life … One of the favorite things about West Valley that I love is the brotherhood we have, the sisterhood we have, and the family you develop with some of the finest people I’ve ever met.”
Jeff Brotherson, Cody’s father, echoed Kimball’s thoughts.
“Cody was lucky to be given the chance to fulfill his life’s dream of being a police officer. Cody loved being on the force working to make the city of West Valley a safer place for all of us. As a family, we plead with you to treat police officers with the respect they so richly deserve.”
A public memorial service will be held in Officer Cody Brotherson’s honor at the Maverik Center at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14.
