Son Who Lost His Father In Line of Duty Is Given Patrol Car From Local Stranger After Auction Purchase

Jul 22, 2022 by apost team

Tanner Brownlee has been trying to collect as many items of significance related to his late father as possible since he was lost in the line of duty as a police officer. Shortly after his father's passing, he was presented with items such as the motorcycle jacket that his father used as an officer. It was in 2015 when Tanner heard that his father's old police cruiser would be up for auction that he started to look for ways to acquire it.

This included an online fundraising page. During these efforts, he was able to raise nearly $3500. This amount was still far behind the value of the car and he was worried that he would not be able to acquire it. That was until a generous stranger stepped up and did the unthinkable – he bought the car at the auction and gifted it to Brownlee.

It was at the age of 15 that Tanner Brownlee lost his father. According to Denver7, his father was a police officer and he was lost acting in the line of duty in 2010. Since his father passed, Tanner has tried to collect as many items of significance as possible related to him.

One of the items that he wanted was his father's old squad car. He went to great effort to purchase the car at an auction, but, things did not go as planned. It is what happened next that was truly amazing and it is a story that has caught the attention of viewers around the world.

The police cruiser that Tanner wanted to acquire was valued at $12,500. What truly shocked him was when one of the bidders offered $60 thousand for the car. This huge bid easily earned the bidder the right to the car. He was a local rancher named Steve Wells.

It was at this moment that Tanner believed that there was no hope of achieving his goal of getting his dad's old police cruiser. At that moment, the unexpected occurred.

Steve turned to Tanner and dropped the keys in front of him. He told him that the car was his. It was a beautiful moment of generosity and Tanner was left overwhelmed and stunned. He got up and embraced Steve for his kindness and generosity. It is this amazing moment that has captured the attention of viewers around the world that were delighted to find out that Tanner was able to get ahold of his dad's old police cruiser after all. This video continues to bring in new views every day and is a must-see. 

The video posted to Youtube has over 45 million views, 629 thousand likes, and thousands of comments. Internet users posted kind comments like, "The fact that the kid clapped when the guy outbid him shows just how much of a man he is, he didn’t let the rage blind him," one wrote. Another Youtube user wrote, "I have probably seen this video 2 dozen times. Yet, even while knowing exactly what happens, it still brings a tear to my eye when that man hands over the keys to the fallen officers' son."

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After receiving his father's patrol car, the son said he drives it every day. "I just drive it all the time," said Brownlee. "I don't know the word for it, but it's sentimental for me," Brownlee said. The son went on to say that his story probably resonated with people because it is uplifting. 

"When people see it, it makes them happy or it gives them a feeling that they don't usually get from the news sometimes," he shared. "I just like how it's around Christmas time, people are still watching it, like, 'Hey, this is a good story, it's Christmas time,'" Brownlee said. 

Brownlee is beyond grateful to the rancher Wells who purchased the car and then handed it to him. Apparently, Wells had a different purpose in mind for it before he learned of Brownlee's touching story.

"He was telling me that he was going to buy the car for the women's shelter, and then when his son told him my story, he from then on was just like, I'm going to buy the car for him," he shared. "For Steve Wells to spend that amount of money on someone he didn't even know, some kid, some 19-year-old at the time, it's just awesome for him to do that." 

He also said that when he drives the car, people he doesn't even know recognize him in it. "I'll go places and people will be like, 'Hey, Tanner,'" he explained. "It's kind of weird that a bunch of people know my face and stuff like that," he added. 

After losing the car, then regaining it- Brownlee said it will remain in the family forever. "Give it to my kids, if I have any," he said. "It's just something I want to pass down," he said. 

What was your reaction when you first heard about the emotional story of Tanner Brownlee's effort to purchase his father's old police cruiser? Did this story stir your emotions and leave you feeling happy for the final outcome? If you loved this story like so many others have around the world, please pass it on.