I Keep Everyone In My Prayers

As a local reporter for the Limerick-Royersford-Spring City Patch, I met Brad in February when he and the rest of his K9 class were training at Spring-Ford High School.

I was there to do a story on Limerick’s K9 officer, but due to the timing of everyone arriving I got the chance to talk to Brad for almost an hour while he and Limerick Officer McGuigan waited on the Philly-area people to arrive.

He and Officer McGuigan joked about how nice it was to be so close to home for training for once, since most of their training had been happening down in the city and this time, they were both only ten or fifteen minutes from home.

In that conversation, I learned a few things about Brad: he loved his family, and he loved his job. His face just lit up when he talked briefly about the family.

He patiently answered my questions about training and what it was like, and it was so obvious to me that he was incredibly enthusiastic about becoming a K9 officer. I had the privilege of watching him and Nick work as a team that night doing obedience and explosives work.

While I only got to meet Brad that one time, I can tell you he left an impression on me. I wish I’d had the chance to know him better. My heart aches for his family, and I keep everyone in my prayers.

-Alyson D’Alessandro