As a crowd full of students, teachers, and admin surrounded the beloved Officer Mitch, the whole school was overcome with joy. On November 7th, 2016 an elaborate plan to thank our schools resource officer was set in motion. Previously in the year Mrs. Banchieri contacted the Dude, Be Nice founder, Brent Camalich, and set a date for the crew to come to Heritage to thank one of our very own. The Dude, Be Nice clothing company originates in Southern California, which creates clothing with meaning, a symbol, positivity, and all about kindness. This company has done countless events and surprises for people at schools across the country where the students wanted to show their gratitude for someone special on their campus.

 
“We had countless meetings in leadership on how to thank Mitch and how we could truly show our gratitude,” Dominic Quintinilla (12) said.

 
Officer Mitch Brouillette is Heritage’s resource officer, but to many, he’s just another person on campus who you can talk to. He is always helping kids in need, getting involved, walking around campus and talking to students. The people of this campus believed no one was more deserving than Mitch, and he soon was overwhelmed with the love and gratitude that he shows everyone else.

 
“Officer Mitch would do anything for the students on this campus, it’s amazing how selfless and devoted he is to each individual person and their well-being,” Alyssa Filippelli (12) said.

 
The leadership class had to keep their elaborate plan a secret. They planned to fake a leaked video of a leadership student at a party, and Mitch would have to get called to the office to advise it.

Once Mitch saw the video, he would see that it wasn’t a video of a student at a party at all, but a video of countless people thanking him and describing the amazing things that he does at Heritage.

Once Mitch was led out of the office, a gauntlet of a hundred students would surround him saying kind and loving words, and cheering for him to no end. A flash-mob dancing to one of his favorite songs, “Downtown” by Macklemore, would erupt before him.

 
Students collected softballs with loving words written on them about Mitch, and collected funds to buy him a Dolphins signed jersey, and tickets to see the Miami Heat playing the Warriors. The students couldn’t wait to give him all of these presents and show them how much they care.

 
“My heart was racing while waiting in the gauntlet for him to come out, I couldn’t wait to see his reaction,” Veronica Johns (12) said.

 
Once the plan was set in motion, hundreds of students waited patiently for Mitch to leave the office so the flash-mob could begin. Mitch, overwhelmed, left the office and walked through the gauntlet down SLC-B, and continued down towards the cafeteria. A dozen of dancing students dressed in vintage clothing draped Mitch in a fur coat just like Macklemore, and continued to dance and sing-along to the infamous “Downtown”. As Mitch reached the cafeteria and was brought on a stage, hundreds of students started chanting “I believe that Mitch is great”. Overjoyed, students presented him with the gifts and showered him with love. Mitch’s fellow officers, family, friends, and admin all joined to watch this sweet moment.

 
“It was a day I’ll never forget. Seeing the whole school come together to thank someone we love so dearly has never brought me so much joy,” Logan Ulrich (12) said.

 
The video of this event was released August 18th, 2016, and absolutely blew up. From all corners of the country, police departments and schools celebrate this loving moment for Heritage’s beloved resource officer. Currently, on Facebook, the video has 2.5 million hits. It even hit a local news station! The day Officer Mitch was surrounded by love and affection by people who truly want to show their gratitude is a day that will go down in the Heritage history books.