Fossil Ridge High School Resource Officer Adam Brunjes’ path is marked by one day: September 11, 2001. Witnessing the terrorist attacks in New York City firsthand inspired him to leave his office job in advertising sales for Fox Sports.

“Something inside me said I can’t be working behind a desk,” Brunjes said.

That decision took Brunjes from New York City to Scottsdale Arizona, where he trained at Arizona Law Enforcement Academy, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day for 4 months. After becoming a police officer, he moved to Northern Colorado where he was hired by the Fort Collins Police Department in 2009. In 2022, Brunjes became Fossil’s school resource officer.

The decision to become an SRO was driven by Brunjes’ desire for more meaning.

“I wanted to do more impactful work, but still be a police officer, but work with kids and try to keep them on the right path,” Brunjes said.

Brunjes finds fulfillment in the connections with students and guiding them towards positive choices.

“Just building the relationships with those students that come to hang out in my office and kind of not see me as the big bad police officer and someone that they can talk to, and stuff like that,” he said. 

Brunjes takes the long view in working with students, who say they appreciate his efforts to develop connections. 

“He is more of a friend. You can talk to him and he’ll actually understand you and actually give you good advice,” junior Noe Hernandez said.

Students feel that he is a safe place to go to to just have a conversation when they are feeling stressed out. 

“One time I wasn’t in class and I just wanted to meet with him and we had a great conversation and connected well,” Hernandez said.

Beyond the badge, Brunjes’s love for outdoor activities emphasizes his dedication to both his job and personal interests.

“I play hockey, I run a hockey league. I like to bike sometimes and stuff like that. So a lot of outdoor stuff,” Brunjes said.

Colleague Glen Dilldine, FRHS campus security officer, said students and staff appreciate Brunjes’ approach to the job.

“I think he just gets along with the students super well, which is good to see,” Dilldine said. “There’s a lot of stuff that goes on on social media and everything, but he’s a  pretty solid dude.”