Related article:
Calif. officer on life support after car crash
By Henry K. Lee
San Francisco Chronicle
RICHMOND, Calif. — A Richmond police officer was taken off life support this morning, three days after he crashed his car on a rain-slicked road while responding to a call.
Officer Bradley Moody, 29, died at 2:45 a.m. at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, said Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan, a department spokesman. Moody’s organs were donated to a man in San Francisco “who had 24 hours to live,” Gagan said.
“The last thing Brad did was to save a life,” Gagan said.
Moody, an eight-year veteran, was headed north on Marina Bay Parkway at 8:05 a.m. Saturday, answering an officer’s call for more help during an assault call, when he lost control of his Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser and slammed sideways into a light pole near Regatta Boulevard, authorities said.
Moody was declared brain-dead as a result of the crash.
Moody was a K-9 officer and SWAT team member whose dog, Rico, was in the car at the time of the crash. The dog is recovering from minor injuries.
Memorial services are pending for Moody, who is survived by his wife, Susan, a former Richmond police dispatcher, and their two young children.
“His family is going to struggle without him,” Gagan said. “He was such an amazing person. He was irreplaceable.”
“Brad was held in the highest regard by his peers,” Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus said in a statement. “His work ethic was extraordinary, and his commitment to the community of Richmond and his profession unparalleled. Needless to say, this is a very difficult time for RPD and Brad’s many friends in the community.”
Just hours before the crash, Moody received a commendation for chasing down and arresting two suspects carrying concealed weapons just a a week apart in August. One suspect had a sawed-off shotgun hidden in the sleeve of his sweatshirt, and the other had been armed with semiautomatic handgun.
“Your tenacity, pursuit for justice and dedication to the community do not go unnoticed,” the commendation read. “Officer Moody, you are commended for your performance and dedication to this organization as well as the community. Your hard work and willingness to follow through are appreciated and applauded.”
“That’s a good example of his duality,” Gagan said. “He was able to fight crime and then turn around and do a K-9 demonstration at schools and be very engaging with kids. It shows his ability to be personal and very sensitive.”
A fund has been established for Moody’s family. Donations may be made to the “Memorial Fund for Officer Brad Moody and dropped off at any Mechanics Bank.
Condolences can also be posted online at bradley-moody.last-memories.com.
Copyright 2008 San Francisco Chronicle