Five- year-old Bryson Charlton got the chance of lifetime Thursday as he trained with a Box Elder County SWAT team. The crew broke down the door of a Logan home. They entered with guns drawn, shouting commands. And the Hooper boy was along for the ride of his life.
His mother, Juli Charlton, drove him all the way to Logan to give him the experience. They have a connection with an officer at the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office, who set up the opportunity.
Bryson was given a badge and wore a SWAT team helmet and bullet proof body armor made for an adult. He wore it like a man. With eyes wide, he followed the team into the house and watched as they went room to room using proper techniques.
The SWAT Commander said they have a unique team.
“Most of us work together during the week, so if we get called we can go together,” he said. “Only two of the team had other jobs in the department.”
The commander asked that SWAT members not be publicly identified.
The SWAT commander had a hold of Bryson’s shoulders during the training and directed him to the different locations and let him see the officers in action.
The team commander said it kind of made the whole team proud to have the boy along.
“It probably gave him a break knowing his dad is sick,” he said.
Bryson’s mother said Bryson didn’t stop talking about the experience all the way home and well into the evening.
The house the SWAT team was using is part of a property purchased by Wasatch Group for future development near the Logan River. Bracken Atkinson, vice president of Real Estate Development for Wasatch Group, said the vacant houses on the project will be used for fire and law enforcement training until the construction approval process is finalized.
Absolutely disgusting. What 5 year old needs to experience breaking down a door and entering your home with guns drawn?