Staff writer
A familiar face recently returned to the crime-fighting team at Hillsboro Police Department.
Officer Randy Brazil brings over 20 years of experience to HPD, much of which was spent working local beats.
“I’m excited to be back,” he said. “Whether I’m working an accident, investigating a crime, helping change a tire, or writing a ticket, I’m just here to help.”
Brazil returns to law enforcement and Kansas after a sabbatical of sorts that started in 2013. He and his family moved to Perris, California, where he helped run a family spa manufacturing business called Catalina Spas.
“California is all traffic, and is just an abundance of people,” Brazil said. “I’m a small town guy. Now I can breathe again.”
Brazil and his wife, Carolyn, opted to sell the business and move back to Hillsboro to be closer to their children.
They have a daughter who works as a nurse at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, a son who attends Kansas State University, another son who attends Tabor College, and a daughter who goes to Hillsboro High School.
“Family is what it’s all about,” Brazil said. “We still had a house here, so the move back was easy.”
In his younger days, Brazil graduated from Tabor College in 1990 with a degree in health and physical education.
In 1992, he started working as a deputy at the sheriff’s department, where he became undersheriff in 2001.
In 2009, he transitioned to a part-time officer position at HPD and also drove a commercial motor vehicle for Cintas Corp that carried sensitive documents that were eventually shredded.
Chief Dan Kinning was excited to welcome Brazil back to HPD.
“We were extremely happy to have Randy back with us,” Kinning said. “He is a veteran officer that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him. He and his family have been an integral part of the community for years.”
Brazil said police work is relative.
“Working at the county level, there is more activity because you cover a larger area,” he said. “Working in Hillsboro, you get similar calls, just at a lower volume.”
He said the hardest part of returning to law enforcement is working nights.
“I drink a lot of coffee,” he said. “I take it straight black.”