Marple Newtown Patch wants you to get to know your first responders. They do dangerous work and Patch would like to recognize them. Meet first responder Brandon Graeff who is an officer with the Marple Township Police Department.
Name: Brandon Graeff
Age: 39
Hometown: Lees Port, PA
Rank/Title: Sergeant, DARE Instructor
How long have you been with the Marple Police Department?
Just over 15 years.
What do you like about your job?
I like the variety—there are a variety of things we deal with. As a DARE instructor, I enjoy being in the schools—we talk to students in first, fourth and sixth grades and enjoy the opportunity to speak with the kids at those ages. It’s a unique opportunity for a police officer to go into a school and speak with the kids and allow them to see you as a police officer but also someone who is just like their parents—a regular person.
What do you dislike about your job?
The older I get, the less I like the shift work. I enjoy working nights but being a father of three young kids and staying active in their lives, and still trying to sleep during the day is a challenge. It’s not earth shattering but it’s what a lot of us deal with. We find out what works for us and cope with it.
What inspired you to become a police officer?
The TV show Miami Vice. I hate to say it and I’m nothing like those guys but that planted the seed. I was focused on a career in law enforcement since high school and geared by college degree, jobs I held, and how I conducted myself toward that career. It's all thanks to Crockett and Tubbs.
What do you like about the Marple Newtown area?
From my perspective as a DARE officer, I see first hand the tight collaboration between parents, schools, and police working together for the same interest of their kids, other people’s kids, all our kids. It's truly a seamless collaboration between those groups—working together to accomplish those goals. It’s not unique to the Marple Newtown area but it’s not in every community. Thankfully it's in this community.
What do you want the general public to know about the Marple Police Department?
We do and see a lot more interesting things, unique things, than people would think. Inevitably, people think not much happens but you’d be surprised. The strange and the interesting that we get on a daily basis—people would be surprised on some of the things we do.
