TRAVERSE CITY — Michigan State Police Trooper Merrek de Castro walked with his patrol partner for that shift, heading back to his patrol car through the smog on Cass Road.
As both got back in the car, his partner’s hat hit the roof. Merrek advised the officer that he could take off that hat before he gets in.
Merrek wasn’t teaching an apprentice. He was talking to his dad on his last patrol shift.
Lt. Michael de Castro, who has worked with the state police for more than three decades, is retiring in late September.
“Once I got out on my own, we were trying to get him out here before his retirement in September,” Merrek said. “It’s a great feeling being able to have him out here with me.”
When Michael started in the state police, Merrek had not yet been born.
On Friday, Merrek was able to do something he’s wanted to do since he was a little boy: work with his dad.
“There’s not a lot of people who can say they worked a shift with their dad on the road,” Merrek said.
Michael first entered the police force as a reserve officer for the Cadillac Police Department while studying at Northwestern Michigan College. After he graduated, he worked with the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office until New Year’s Day 1995, when he made the move to the Michigan State Police.
Since starting at MSP, Michael has worked multiple positions within the force, from trooper to sergeant to specialist lieutenant. Yet his most important role was outside the workforce.
As a father, Michael has given a few pieces of advice to his son about their work.
“He was showing me drills and things to do to better prepare myself,” Merrek said. “I, myself, have just kind of also learned along the way and figured it out.”
Even though they are family, they said, they don’t interact as much while they are working.
“Normally, I’m not wearing a uniform,” Michael noted. “I’m in the Emergency Management Homeland Security Division, so my work is a little bit different than his.”
For their final ride-along, Michael said he hadn’t been in a patrol car in a while, and their roles were reversed. “Instead of dad telling him what to do, it’s going to be my son telling me what to do and how to do things,” he said.
Michael said it was very heartwarming for him, even though he was both excited and nervous.
“I’m close to his boss, and he calls me and tells me stories and the good things that he’s doing, which makes me a proud father,” he added. “I’m proud of all my kids, but it’s going to be interesting seeing him follow in my footsteps as a uniformed officer.”
And, like father, like son, both said they would remember this day for the rest of their lives.