It’s no secret that School Resource Officers Nate Schmidt and Trevor Burgess are rarely apart. From the halls to the golf cart to the field, they always seem to be within spitting distance of one another, so much so that it’s highly unusual to see one without the other.
Their tendency to always be together raises many rumors about their relationship — is it purely superficial or are they actually friends?
Burgess changed the topic to avoid the question.
“[Schmidt] was interviewing to be the other cop in the school, and I was already here,” Burgess said. “I sat in on the interview — that’s the first time we ever saw each other.”
Even though their friendship was born along the lines of the forced-proximity trope, the two found they truly do enjoy each others’ company.
“We have a love of sports and music in common,” Burgess said. “And comedy — he thinks I’m funny.”
“Sometimes he’ll say something that’s not funny, but I laugh anyway because I know the next thing will be funny,” Schmidt said. “Like, keep trying, buddy — you got it.”
After spending all day with each other year after year, it surely must seem like they might need a break from each other, but they seek each other out even away from work.
“We’re married — not to each other,” Schmidt said.
“Our little girls are the same age — they’re both in fourth grade,” Burgess said. “We coach their basketball team together.”
Though many students claim to be unable to tell them apart, Schmidt and Burgess insist there is one key difference between them.
“[Schmidt] is the most punctual person ever and has to be on time,” Burgess said. “I’m never in a hurry — that’s probably where we’re most different. I get so sick of him being so dependable and on time.”
“[Burgess] will leave to go to the bathroom or something, and I’ll find him half an hour later talking to someone in the office,” Schmidt said. “I’m like, ‘Come on — we have things to do.’”
Even though they disagree over time management, neither holds it against the other. In fact, they both agree they are, at the end of the day, “true besties.”
“I know I’m his best friend,” Schmidt said. “I’d say he’s mine.”
