Where are they now? ‘95 RHS grad goes above and beyond line of duty

Editor’s Note: This is one in the Sentinel’s “Where Are They Now?” series about Ramona graduates — where they are and what they are doing.

Detective Brett Riley had not planned on going into law enforcement after graduating from Ramona High School in 1995, but said when he took a college criminal justice class “that really sparked my interest.”

He is a detective for the La Mesa Police Department and this year was awarded a medal for meritorious conduct for going above and beyond what was expected in an incident that took place in June 20, 2013.

“We had to leave a place of cover and safety,” explained Riley.

At that time, he was a training officer and member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in La Mesa. A call came in from an elderly woman who said her husband shot her in the hand and both were in their residence, Riley said.

He and other members of the department responded, taking position outside the house. Although the victim was on the front porch with the dispatcher continuing to talk to her, Riley said they could not see the woman.

The husband, he said, “kept going in and out of the front door. We couldn’t tell if he had a gun.”

When the husband went back in the house and they saw a light turn on in the rear of the residence, they made their move to run up and grab the victim, said Riley. While doing so, they were hoping that the husband did not just turn on the light and head back out, he added.

She was sitting at the base of the steps and Riley found she had also been shot in the stomach. He put her arms around his neck and helped her to an ambulance about a block away.

He and the other officers were able to call out the suspect and get him to surrender. The man, who was in his 70s, was arrested, and later died in jail, said Riley. His wife survived her injuries.

What was he thinking at the time of the incident?

“I guess your adrenaline really gets pumping,” he replied.

La Mesa Police Department held a ceremony where he and others on the force were honored for their service.

Riley, the son of Bart and Jackie Riley of Ramona, has been with La Mesa police since 2011 and has been a detective for about seven months. He previously worked in southeast San Diego County, after graduating from the police academy, but also served eight years with the Hemet Police Department.

He attended Grossmont College after high school, and earned an associate’s degree in general education. It was when he took that criminal justice class that he applied for a job with the San Diego County marshal’s office and was hired for a non-sworn position.

“I basically assisted sworn personnel,” he said. Among his duties were weapons screening at the courthouses and serving subpoenas.

He went on to the next level — bailiff — and then attended a reserve police academy. When he was hired by San Diego Police Department in 2000, he was sent to the police academy.

Riley said he enjoys the camaraderie with his co-workers and being able to help make situations better for people down on their luck.

“Every day is different. You never know what you’re looking at for the day ahead of you,” he said.

For any teenagers thinking of a career in law enforcement, Riley suggests they do well in school.

“Don’t do anything that’s going to get you into trouble,” he said, explaining that applicants will have their backgrounds checked. “Integrity is one of the key things you need to have.”

Riley also advised teenagers to make good decisions and be a leader, instead of a follower.

He also suggested participating in the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Explorer Program, which allows young people to explore aspects of law enforcement and interact with deputies, detectives and other personnel.

Readers with the name of and contact information for a Ramona graduate for the “Where Are They Now?” series may email maureen@ramonasentinel.com or call 760-789-1350.