Lt. Billy Brazier of the Fayetteville Police Department has a lengthy career in law enforcement, having served for nearly three decades.

Brazier’s grandfather, William “Doc” Oliver, became his inspiration in pursuing a career in upholding the law.

He saw that the community respected his grandfather, a dedicated man who served in law enforcement for 35 years. Lt. Brazier said he admired what his grandfather stood for and how he worked with the community.

His Grandfather Oliver began his career with the Pulaski Police Department in 1950. He later served in the capacities of Giles County Sheriff, Ardmore, Alabama and Tennessee police chief.

Officer Brazier said he is originally from Pulaski. He served in the United States Army in maintenance support and welding for eight years. While still on active duty and during the time he was stationed at Fort Campbell, Brazier said he would go home on weekends. He would work at the Giles County Sheriff Office both as a dispatcher and in corrections. That was the start of his law enforcement career in 1997.

Later, while serving in the Army Reserves, he attended the Police Academy in Jefferson County, Alabama. “After graduation I was hired at the Minor Hill Police Department in Giles County,” he said. “While working there (Minor Hill) I certified in the State of Tennessee,” he said.

With a desire to work in a small town and because he had friends who worked at the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) he went to work at the FPD in 2001. Chief Doug Carver was head of the department at that time. “I started here as a community officer,” he said. He visited schools and later helped with the Police Explorers program. “We would teach kids about law enforcement,” he said. Two of the students who attended the Explorers program are now officers — Patrolman Dalton Henderson and K9 Officer Bailey Cowan.

Currently, Brazier is supervisor over the patrol division. Among his duties are overseeing four shifts and coordinating with the School Resource Officer sergeants. “I make sure they have what they need for their shifts,” said Brazier. He answers calls with the officers during the day or night shifts and fills in for officers who are absent.

He said one of the biggest challenges in law enforcement is keeping up with the changes in the laws. Officers also encounter many negative situations on the job. In spite of that, the positive emerges when he has the opportunity to assist in locating someone who has been lost or give aid to somebody who’s been in an accident.

“The biggest joy is knowing that you’ve helped somebody,” he said.