Taylor University police officer, Evan Brutscher, graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on April 25, 2025.
Before moving to Upland, Brutscher lived in Brandenburg, Kentucky where he attended the Kentucky Police Academy. He went to the Kentucky Police Academy for 16 weeks to prove to himself that he could do it.
“We would get up at 4:45 normally and do physical training for an hour or so,” Brutscher said. “Then we would go to breakfast. After breakfast we would go to class until lunch. From lunch we would go back to class and then go eat dinner. Dinner usually ended around 5:30-6 o’clock, then we would go back to our rooms and either study or go do more physical training, play basketball, or just hang out and get to know everybody in our squad.”
The Brutscher family moved to Upland because his wife had a job opportunity,bringing their family to Indiana. Brutscher got a job as a Taylor University housekeeper. As a housekeeper, he enjoyed talking with students and the kindness he received from each one of them.
Brutscher worked as an Officer in Radcliff, Kentucky before deciding to be a stay-at-home dad.
When Taylor later opened job offers for a campus police position, and Brutscher was encouraged to get back into law enforcement by his wife, Tia Brutscher.
“I knew that returning to the role of a police officer was Evan's calling and purpose,” Tia said.
Brutscher’s time in the academy taught him various lessons like being patient. Many of the people in training were also younger than him as well
He said positivity is a key factor when doing this type of work. Negativity can quickly take over and which is why it is important to remember to remain positive.
A major challenge he faced while at the academy was spending time away from his wife and two children. Being away from family was something Brutscher had not done since his children were born.
Not only does he have a family that he had to leave, but he also owns a farm. The responsibilities went to his wife who also has two full-time jobs.
She works as a full-time nurse practitioner along with Team Lead for the east region of IU Health’s Emergency Medicine team. Tia is also working full time as an Assistant Clinical Professor in Nursing at Ball State University.
“My faith keeps me strong, and I know that no matter the challenge, we will always overcome together as a family,” Tia said. “While the months were trying, they passed by quickly because we were so busy, and we are certainly happy to have him back home.”
Tia also said the decision was made collectively by the family and understood the sacrifices that would need to be given for Brutscher to return as a full-time police officer again.
She knew he could achieve anything he set his mind to and that he would be successful at the academy again if he focused on his "why" and trusted his own abilities.
Taylor Chief of Police, Mike Spaulding, admires how well Brutscher gets along with the students.
Spaulding shared how kind and patient Brutscher is and how he has the ability to display a positive attitude all the time.
“Evan has a great demeanor and attitude to serve as a Taylor University Police Officer,” Spaulding said.
Brutscher wants to use his role on campus to influence the people here differently.
Tia said she has seen God remind Brutscher of the power of dedication and that God will continue to use him as a calm presence in times of trial as well as a kind face in moments of need.
“I just want to be a positive light,” Brutscher said. “I know Taylor is very positive anyway, and I have talked to many students, I talk to them weekly sometimes, just to show that positive light.”
