Brett Westbrook for pine county sheriff

I grew up in Mounds View, MN and attended Irondale High School where I played soccer and hockey.    I met my soul-mate, Angie and we married in 1992.  About 30 days later I enrolled at Bethel University where I studied Spanish/Secondary Education and Coaching while playing soccer and hockey collegiately.  In 1994, I spent time living with a family in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico honing my Spanish skills.  

After a few years of teaching Spanish and coaching, a single ride-along with a dear friend and Arlington Police Officer ignited my passion for police work.  I became an Arlington Police Officer in 1999 and soon became a midnight beat cop in the city of 300,000.  Serving as a Spanish translator and becoming a defensive tactics instructor, I was applying the knowledge of some very talented officers and "coming into my own" as a skilled officer.  I earned a number of awards, including a nomination for officer of the year in 2002.   Soon after, I was promoted to detective in the gang unit and I worked with Spanish-speaking gangs.  Some of the highlight cases included: murder, criminal attempt murder, aggravated assault, criminal sexual assault, human trafficking and numerous low-level property crimes (graffiti, damage to property, theft).  

In 2004 we returned home  to Minnesota and I entered the MN State Patrol academy.  Upon graduation I was assigned to the Pine City station.  I hit the ground running and began to immerse myself in the community as a coach of all kinds of things.  As a trooper, my street cop experience was utilized in detecting and arresting crimes associated with the illegal drug industry.  Within a few years, I had earned the reputation as a top drug cop and was awarded a canine.  Skippy and I worked hard and stayed busy with our own finds and by helping many task forces around the state.  Skippy was a great dope dog and we achieved national and regional recognition for our ability to find drugs both on the street and in competition.  A few of our cases rose to the federal level and we proved our worth with convictions in each of those 3 cases.

Angie and I raised our family of 3 children while I worked rotating shifts and coached high school hockey.  I retained my substitute teaching license and worked in Rush City, Pine City and the Visions school here and there.   Having hockey in my blood, I served as a board member for our Pine City Youth Hockey program and held a number of positions including vice-president and president during my 8 year tenure.  I was also teaching cadets at the State Patrol Academy in various disciplines including Spanish, defensive tactics and criminal interdiction

2020 changed policing.  Protectors' Peak was established and we poured ourselves into helping 1st responders with post-traumatic stress at a ranch in Idaho.  After watching good cops struggle with their purpose, have relationship troubles and cycling out of their chosen profession, the non-profit, faith-based retreat center was exactly what was needed and I'm proud and honored to be part of it.