Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver

California's premier full-service law firm with an emphasis on the representation of peace officers in disciplinary, criminal, labor, workers' compensation, personal injury and other civil matters.

  • About Us
  • Practice Areas
    • Labor Representation
    • Civil Litigation
    • Personal Injury
      • Example of Case Results
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Maritime Law
    • Estate Planning
    • DOE Security Clearance Hearings
    • Peace Officers
    • Firefighters
    • EMS Agency Investigations
    • Criminal Defense
    • CalPERS Appeals
  • Our Team
  • Classes
  • Media
    • Bulletins
    • RLS in the News
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Resources
    • Newsletters
  • Clients
  • Career Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

Close to 2,000 mourn fallen Richmond officer

October 14, 2008 by David Shirley

From: Contra Costa Times

Karl Fischer

10/14/08

Brad Moody, then 6, once told his mom he wanted to be a cop.

Why is that? she asked.

“To make this world a better place,” said his cousin, Pastor John Wright, at a memorial service Tuesday for the Richmond police officer.

Moody’s childhood career choice proved prophetic. Friends and family took turns before nearly 2,000 police officers at Sleep Train Pavilion recalling the small things that showed Moody for the honorable, fair and friendly street cop that he was.

“Clearly, Brad’s life ended too soon,” said Richmond Police Officer David Funk, Moody’s partner for years in a two-officer patrol car. “He was a cop’s cop. He loved the job and he did it right. And when things got tough, Brad would just crack that trademark smile and elevate the situation to a better place.”

Moody, 29, died after a fatal wreck near the Richmond Police Department Oct. 5. A canine officer and SWAT team member, Moody spun out in his patrol car on rain-slicked Marina Bay Parkway and crashed into a light standard while responding to a call. His dog, Rico, survived without serious injury.

Moody went off life support and his organs were donated Oct. 7.

Before a huge contingent of officers from around Northern California, including about 100 police dogs, Richmond police Chief Chris Magnus posthumously awarded Moody the department’s Distinguished Service Award.

“Even under the best of circumstances, Richmond can be a challenging place to be Advertisement a police officer,” Magnus said. “But Brad accepted that challenge with enthusiasm and tenacity.”

Funk and Moody were synonymous names for years in Richmond’s Iron Triangle neighborhood, where they worked from the same patrol car. Much of the office lore imparted during the two-hour ceremony revolved around their relationship.

“It was Funk and Moody. It wouldn’t matter if you were talking about one or the other or both. If one got in trouble, the other got in trouble,” said Detective Sgt. Lee Hendricsen, who supervised the duo on the street in the early 2000s.

“It wasn’t always roses. There were troubles, as there is with any married couple,” Hendricsen added, eliciting a chortle from the front rows, where nearly every sworn officer employed by Richmond sat. “Usually, it was something dumb (Funk) would do.”

Moody moved on to canine patrol, and Funk this year joined investigations. But the neighborhood remembers, Funk told the crowd.

“Brad always did it right. He was fair and respectful. And the proof of that is on Nevin Avenue in Richmond, between First and Second streets,” said Funk, referring to an impromptu memorial erected there by residents. “I expected to see a memorial on Regatta, but when I found that second memorial it blew me away. It was placed there by the same dope dealers and gangsters Brad used to arrest.”

Moody recently did the research and paperwork to purchase a deployment vehicle for the Richmond SWAT team. He also haggled with Hendricsen, a SWAT supervisor, about changing the uniform.

“He’d just recently gotten these new tan boots, and he wanted to go to them too. Well, I’m a traditionalist. I like black boots and black leather equipment,” Hendricsen said. “I was probably one of the most vocal opponents.”

Message to Brad: You win. The SWAT team will switch to tan boots in his honor, Hendricsen said.

Moody lived in Vacaville with his wife, Susan, and daughters Madison, 3, and Emma, 1. A large police procession from Vacaville to the pavilion closed freeways and roads at times Wednesday morning in Contra Costa and Solano counties.

“Bradley, I am going to miss you, each and every day that passes,” Susan Moody said. “You were my whole entire world, and I can’t believe you are gone.”

The department donated Rico to the family. The dog stayed with Moody during his final moments at the hospital, his wife said.

The memorial was the second at the amphitheater for a Contra Costa County officer who died on duty in just more than a month. On Sept. 11, a memorial was held there for Martinez police Sgt. Paul Starzyk, who was killed trying to arrest a suspect in a domestic dispute.

Filed Under: RLS In The News

Consultation Form

Offices across California to serve you.
Contact us now to schedule a consultation.
Contact form not loading? Click here!
Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC publishes this website as a service to our clients and other friends for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for specific legal advice or opinions, and the transmission of information through this website is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship between sender and receiver. Internet subscribers and online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

© 2023 Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC. All Rights Reserved. | Disclaimer

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPTREJECT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Contact Us

  • News Alerts

Official logo for Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver
Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver Logo
  • About Us
  • Practice Areas
    ▼
    • Labor Representation
    • Civil Litigation
    • Personal Injury
      ▼
      • Example of Case Results
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Maritime Law
    • Estate Planning
    • DOE Security Clearance Hearings
    • Peace Officers
    • Firefighters
    • EMS Agency Investigations
    • Criminal Defense
    • CalPERS Appeals
  • Our Team
  • Classes
  • Media
    ▼
    • Bulletins
    • RLS in the News
  • Resources
    ▼
    • Links
    • Resources
    • Newsletters
  • Clients
  • Career Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
Hotline phone numbers. Northern California: 925-609-1699. Southern California: 310-393-1486.