Shortly before 0800 on the morning of October 4, 2008, Officer Bradley Moody was involved in a single patrol-car accident on Marina Bay Parkway just north of Regatta Blvd. in the city of Richmond. The eight-year veteran was headed north on Marina Bay Parkway, answering an officer’s call for help during an assault. Moody lost control of his Ford cruiser and slammed sideways into a light pole, authorities said. It had been raining a short time before the call and roads were slick.

After heroic on-scene efforts by several members of the Richmond Police and Fire Departments, as well as several PG&E employees, Officer Moody was transported to John Muir Trauma Center in Walnut Creek.

Officer Moody had sustained catastrophic brain injury. After remaining on life support for three days, a determination was made that Officer Moody’s brain functioning was not compatible with life. His wish was to be an organ donor, so his family instructed the hospital to move forward with that process. Officer Moody was taken off life support and passed away at 2:45 a.m. October 7. According to Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan, Moody’s organs were donated to a man in San Francisco who had 24 hours to live. “The last thing Brad did was to save a life,” Gagan said.

Officer Moody is survived by his wife, Susan, a former Richmond PD dispatcher, and their two young daughters, three-year-old Madison and one-year-old Emma. He is also survived by his parents, James and Elizabeth Moody, and siblings James Moody Jr., and Jennifer Moody.

“Brad was held in the highest regard by his peers,” 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.”

On October 14, over 1500 people filled Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord to honor and remember Officer Bradley A. Moody. He graduated in 2000 from the police academy at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, where he was named top athlete, top marksman and overall No. 1 in his class.

Moody was remembered as a dedicated K-9 officer. His dog “Rico” survived the accident with minor injuries. Now the family’s pet, Rico was on stage at the memorial service, along with more than 100 other police dogs sitting at attention at their handlers’ sides.

Just hours before the crash that ultimately took his life, Officer Moody received a commendation for apprehending and arresting two suspects carrying concealed weapons in separate incidents last August. “That’s a good example of his duality,” Lt. 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.”

“Bradley was a cop’s cop,” said Officer David Funk, recalling his patrols of the city’s Iron Triangle neighborhood with Moody. “He loved his job, as he did life.” After Moody died, a memorial sprang up on Nevin Avenue, placed there by the “very gangsters and dope dealers who Brad used to arrest,” Funk said. The gang members left signatures and positive messages for Moody. “It blew me away,” Funk said.

Showing remarkable poise, Susan Moody addressed those in attendance and thanked Rico. “Even after the crash, Rico tried to protect his daddy and was with him during the last moments of his life,” she said. As if almost on cue, a police dog began barking.

“Bradley, I am going to miss you each and every day that passes,” she said as she began crying. “I promise you that I will tell our babies how much you loved them.” With her children in tow, she placed flowers on her husband’s casket and gave Rico a hug.

A fund to benefit the Moody family has been established at Mechanic’s Bank. Donations may be made to the “The Memorial Fund for Officer Brad Moody” and dropped off at any Mechanics Bank location. A website set up by Brad’s co-workers is available for viewing and posting condolences for the Moody family: http://bradley-moody.last-memories.com.