Former Mesa cop awarded for helping those with addiction

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Brock Bevell is no stranger to Arizona’s Family airwaves. The former Mesa police officer has been featured several times about his emotional yet inspiring journey.

Brock got hooked on painkillers after being injured in the line of duty. He managed to kick the addiction and now devotes his life to helping others in the community overcome similar challenges. It’s why Scott Pasmore and Arizona’s Family Surprise Squad team visited him recently. Brock thought the crew was there to do a news story on him, but the real reason was much more special.

“For people who don’t know what you guys do here, run through it,” Scott said as the two sat in Brock’s office. “We are Victory Recovery, so part of the day we’re helping men and women who are seeking recovery who need treatments,” Brock explained that he starts the day by working out with them, then works with them to help them get back into society and find jobs.

He also spends around two hours every day driving around in the community, looking for those addicted to drugs like fentanyl. Bevell hands out packages of Narcan to help prevent overdoses. He told Scott that he helped save at least 22 lives in January alone.

“What happened to you in the line of duty?” Scott asked.

Bevell said he was trying to arrest a woman who was suspected of trafficking her daughter. The suspect ended up running her car over Brock and his partner. It left him with a broken ankle and a damaged knee. He was prescribed opiates to help combat the pain. He retired from the police force because of his injuries, and that’s when his troubles began.

“I had no more connection with the department. That was my identity. That’s who I was,” Bevell said.

Bevell says taking the drugs helped him convince himself that he didn’t miss being an officer. He thought he was in control, but his life was spiraling out of control. His wife ended up divorcing him and moved out of town. His relationship with his five children also suffered.

It was not easy for him when he eventually chose to get sober. It took him seven days alone lying on a bathroom floor before he was able to break his addiction. “When I walked out of that bathroom, I made a commitment. You’re now sober. Now you’ve got to help people out.”

“As many times as I’ve done stories on you, I’m just amazed at who you are as a person and what you do,” Scott told him.

He explained that he wasn’t there for a news story about Brock but to surprise Brock. Scott handed the former cop an envelope and invited him to open it. Inside was a certificate saying Brock was awarded $5,000 from Valley Toyota Dealers, who sponsored the Surprise Squad program.

“Man, that’s cool. Thank you so much. That’s a good surprise,” Bevell smiled. He doesn’t know right now what to do with the money, but he knows it will be used for good.

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