From playing bad guys to catching them: A father & son police story

Father and Son Mike and Sean Roberson didn’t expect to be working at the same police department, but Sean grew up wanting to be in law enforcement like his dad. 

“It was just always something I wanted to do, growing up, just seeing all the cool things he did at work,” Sean said.

Now, Mike, 66, and Sean, 36 both serve as officers with the Trussville Police Department. Mike has worked there for 19 years, and Sean joined him two years ago - officially. 

Mike was first hired as a police officer on August 23, 1980, working at the Birmingham Police North Precinct for a year before moving to West Precinct, then the tactical unit - the BPD SWAT team. He was a tactical officer for 22 years before moving to the Trussville department.

Even from a young age, Sean got some idea of what his dad’s career was like. He would go on bomb calls or learn to shoot automatic weapons at the shooting range with his dad. He played the bad guy in police swat training several times, and the thrill was contagious. 

But at least some of those things - as fun as they were - weren’t exactly recommended in the police manual.

Mike recalled a specific instance where Sean was on a bomb call with him, and the Birmingham chief showed up. 

It was a call about a briefcase by the SouthTrust bank in Five Points West. Sean was in the front when the chief started walking towards the truck. He had to hide by the floorboards while another officer shielded his view so the chief wouldn’t see him. 

It wasn’t just those experiences that made Sean want to be a police officer. It was also the camaraderie he witnessed between the police officers, Sean said. 

“He grew up around a lot of policemen,” Mike said.

Not everything about being a police officer has remained the same over the years, and Mike listed several ways his job has changed. For instance, his workload used to be lighter. Back then, officers would rarely get a call on a Sunday. But now, officers sometimes work nonstop consecutive days in the Birmingham area and even occasionally in Trussville. 

“When I first got here I was working night shifts, and after nine o'clock you’d think they rolled the streets up because there wasn’t any traffic,” Mike said. “But now it’s different.” 

Training for officers also has changed. While Mike trained in Birmingham for 19 weeks, Sean’s state training was only 13 weeks. Sean learned newer laws and updated procedures on safety features like traffic stops. Everything moved from pen and paper to computers. Mike did a week of wreck training and Sean only did a few days. 

Sean began his career as a deputy assigned to the Jefferson County Jail, before moving to Trussville where, he said, he has more opportunities. Instead of waking up inmates, feeding them and taking care of them, he just comes to the department in the morning for roll call then goes out on the road.

“You pretty much make your own day,” Sean said. 

“Actually look for the bad guys,” Mike replied. 

Mike said he always tried to push Sean to be a good, productive citizen growing up, and not do the crazy things that lead other young men to jail. Now, Sean’s favorite thing about being a police officer is getting to help others and put those bad guys in jail. 

Sometimes, putting bad guys in jail is easier said than done. But Mike shared some encouragement. 

“I try to tell some of these younger guys that get upset about losing a case that it’s all a game,” Mike said. “Don’t take it personally, because sooner or later karma takes over.” 

Being in the same department gives time for more father-son time, the Robersons said. For example, during Sean’s training, he went to sniper school for the SWAT team and Mike came out to help them with sighting their rifles. 

I don’t have any plans to go anywhere else. It’s a good place to work.

-Sean Roberson

Sean sometimes helps his dad out with lifting heavy ladders and other small tasks he can’t do on his own anymore. They work opposite shifts, but they still find time in between to hang out even if it’s for something small. 

Mike is retiring at the end of the year, and Sean hopes to stay at the Trussville Police Department for a while. 

“I don’t have any plans to go anywhere else,” Sean said. “It’s a good place to work.”