Remembering Deputy Bryan Sleeper - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Friday night friends, family and colleagues of Deputy Bryan Sleeper remember the man who died protecting the Bismarck community.

39 year old Brian Sleeper was a man who was comfortable being himself around anyone.

He died one year ago today when he collapsed and died of a heart attack while helping arrest a suspected drunk driver.

More than 100 people gather at the Burleigh County Courthouse to remember the man with a big heart.

"I like to think that with all the love that Bryan showed everyone, Bryan's heart grew a little bit bigger and over time Bryan's heart grew so big, it just gave out."

He was also a man of character, who loved his job.

"In the middle of winter he'd show up in shorts and a t-shirt and say lets go, we gotta go, we've got things to do," Sheriff Pat Heinert said.

"Bryan was always excited to be here, he was always happy, I mean he was like a puppy ready to head out to the field," Sergeant Roy Bailey said.

While he loved his job, he also loved making people laugh.

"I would get calls from citizens when he was working patrol where he'd actually stop people and they'd call in and say this guy's crazy he's standing by the car and giving me a ticket and I'm laughing," Heinert said.

"He was always jolly, happy joking around, a nice guy to be around," Daniel Burgard said.

And those he worked with say Bryan didn't focus on giving out tickets or making arrests, but he focused on serving the community.

"Bryan took this job very seriously he took his duties and responsibilities very seriously it was a big part of who he was and it wasn't just the doing of the job it was serving people," Bailey said.

"We miss you Bryan and we will never forget you, rest easy brother, rest easy."

People also honored Deputy George Piepkorn who died in the line of duty back in the 1930's.