The Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, or ILEA, acknowledged the “ethical courage” Brandt Jean showed after his brother’s death.
Botham Jean was killed by off-duty Dallas police officer Amber Guyger after she mistakenly entered his apartment and thought it was her own. Guyger shot Jean and said she believed he was a home intruder.
During the trial, Jean’s 18-year-old brother captured the nation’s attention when he forgave Guyger and asked the judge if he could give her a hug.
“I love you just like anyone else, and I’m not going to hope you rot and die,” Jean said to Guyger. “I personally want the best for you. I wasn’t going to say this in front of my family: I don’t even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you because I know that’s exactly what Botham would want for you. Give your life to Christ. I think giving your life to Christ is the best thing Botham would want for you.”
The ILEA awarded Jean the 2019 Ethical Courage Award at their annual conference this week.
Contemporary Issues and Ethics Conference | Dec 2 – 3
ILEA will honor Brandt Jean, brother of Botham Jean, who will receive the 2019 Ethical Courage Award. This two-day program will hold space for excellence in LE education. Register: https://t.co/DpbEQZZRFs pic.twitter.com/3nZynTuVPn— ILEA (@ILEA_CAIL) November 25, 2019
Gregory Smith, ILEA’s director, said Jean “represents the best of us” while discussing the decision to give him the award.
“Each year, we present the Ethical Courage Award to recognize an individual or organization for outstanding ethics and integrity,” Smith said. “Brandt Jean represents the best in us. Despite an unimaginable loss, he saw the humanity in the person responsible for his brother’s death. He saw her pain and regret and had the ability to show empathy, caring, and forgiveness.”
He added, “I can’t think of an act that was more courageous. That one act did much to help the Dallas community heal.”
Smith commended Botham’s “unimaginable” act of forgiveness and hoped that his actions would motivate others to do the same.
“It was an act of forgiveness that was unimaginable. It was beautiful. It showed courage in the sense that he was being true to his values, being true to his principals, and true to his beliefs,” Smith told Fox 4. “If a man can forgive a person who took the life of his brother, who are we not to forgive those in our lives that have wronged us?”
Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of Botham Jean.
