When Brett Stricker puts on his Minnesota State Patrol flight suit each day, he is carrying on a family tradition and legacy.

At 32 years old, Stricker is a chief warrant officer in the patrol’s flight section. He has been with the agency for a decade, serving eight years on the road before taking to the sky. But for Brett, this journey started long before his first day in uniform.

A family in uniform

Growing up, Brett watched his father, Lt. Paul Stricker, head to work in a maroon and gold uniform. 

“It’s all I’ve ever known,” Brett said.

After Brett’s sister, Brittney joined the State Patrol as a dispatcher, the idea of following in his father’s footsteps started to take hold. With all three working for the same agency at one point, the Strickers became part of a rare three-person legacy.

“She always said, ‘I get to tell the two of you where to go,’” Paul joked about his daughter’s role as a State Patrol dispatcher.

Although Brett and Paul never worked in the same State Patrol district at the same time, they shared similar routes early in Brett’s career. He started in Winona, transferred to Red Wing, then moved to the East Metro district, where Paul had served for years.

“I’ll always be known as ‘Little Strick’ until his partners retire,” Brett said, smiling. “But I embrace ‘Little Strick.’ That’s OK.”

Despite the family connections, Paul made it clear that Brett wouldn’t be given special treatment simply because his father was a trooper.

“I told him you’re gonna have to earn this one on your own,” Paul said. “The academy is hard. You gotta want the job to do it, and if you don’t really want it, you’re not gonna succeed.”

Brett did just that, earning respect, building relationships and eventually launching his career in the skies.

Taking flight

After nearly a decade on the road, Brett decided he’d try to become a pilot for the State Patrol.

“I never envisioned this being quite the possibility,” he said. “Then I saw a couple partners and friends go this route, and I realized that it is attainable if you work at it.”

Brett went through the flight certification process on his own and later completed helicopter training paid for by the State Patrol. He now flies the State Patrol’s Cirrus SR22s, Bell 407s and the new multi-engine Bell 429 helicopter. The flight section plays a key role in search and rescue missions, criminal investigations and pursuit response.

“We are primarily pursuit mitigation,” Brett said. “Once we’re overhead of it, we have it on camera, we will track the pursuit. Ground units can then back off and make it safer for law enforcement and civilians alike.”

A badge with a story

Brett may have carved his own path, but the badge he wears carries deep meaning. He was assigned badge number 130 during the State Patrol Academy. It had once belonged to Garrett Schloesser, a longtime trooper and close friend of Paul who passed away from cancer.

Paul remembers the moment Brett texted him a photo of the special badge.

“I pulled into the parking stall, and I looked down at it and I see it’s badge 130, and I got emotional because I knew what that meant,” he said.

When the Schloesser family attended Brett’s trooper graduation party, they posed for photos holding the badge their father once wore.

“They’re all extremely happy that it’s carrying on with somebody like Brett,” Paul said. “They grew up with Brett. They were little kids together and now to see Brett having their dad’s badge number is pretty special.”

Paul believes his son has more than lived up to badge number 130.

“I think he’s far surpassed what Garrett would’ve liked to see that badge go to,” he said.

A career full of possibility

Brett encourages others to look beyond the traditional perception of the patrol.

“People view the State Patrol as simply a traffic organization. That is our primary goal, but there are so many things you can do here,” he said. “If you like working the road, you can do that your entire career. If you want more, there are so many special details you can go into.”

From Capitol security to K-9 units to flight operations, Brett says there’s no shortage of opportunity.

“You’re never stuck doing one thing. Whatever you want to do, you can do it here.”

Paul, who plans to retire in 2026 after more than 29 years of service, agrees.

“It’s been a very fulfilling career. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat,” he said. “It’s not a job. It’s something you have to want to do.”

For Paul, the most rewarding parts has been watching Brett grow into his patrol career.

“Just the proud dad moments,” he said. “Being able to see where he’s taking his career and how happy he is and what he’s doing. It makes you feel good that he’s on a good path and he’s having so much fun doing it.”

As for Brett, the view from above never gets old.

“I have the best job in the State Patrol. I have the best job in Minnesota,” he said. “Every time you take off, it’s just a rush and it’s fun, and you never forget to look out the window while you’re doing this job.”