California Officer Brain Dead But Kept Alive

RICHMOND, Calif. --

Richmond police say fellow officer Brad Moody, 29, is brain dead after a car crash and at John Muir Medical Center on life support with officers and his family keeping a vigil at his side.

“Officers had an opportunity to say goodbye, to go to his room and, with his family in the room, to say goodbye to him,” said Lt. Mark Gagen of the Richmond Police Department.

A 7-year veteran on the force, Moody and his K-9 were responding to officers calling for backup.

But at a few blocks from police headquarters, just before 8 a.m., Moody’s patrol car skidded out of control and wrapped itself around a light pole on Marina Bay Parkway.

It is unclear exactly why the officer's car veered out of control. The accident happened shortly after a light rain. Gagan reported that rainy weather is considered to be a factor in the crash.

"This is the first rain of the season," said Gagan. "The investigators that were doing the crash investigation told me that any time the first rain of the season occurs, petroleum-based products cause the roads to be very slick."

“We are certain that the wet roadway was a factor,” said Sgt. Trent Cross of the California Highway Patrol (CHP.) “As far as what transpired to cause that crash, we're still trying to put that together.”

Gagen says Moody was easily able to switch between being an aggressive crime fighter to interacting with children and his loss is felt deeply in the department of 170 officers.

“We are a very tight family and when something like this happens it sends shock waves through us,” said Gagen.

The CHP is in charge of the investigation freeing Richmond police to continue their work as they absorb a painful loss to the department.

“You couldn't ask for a better personality in a policeman,” said Gagen. “This has effected all of us so deeply, so quickly.”

Moody’s wife worked as a dispatcher here at Richmond police headquarters. Together, they have two children.

UPDATE: Moody's K-9 partner was in the patrol car when it crashed. The dog is expected to survive, Gagan said.

There will be a debriefing Sunday for Police Department employees, where an announcement will be made about counseling services available, he said.

Copyright 2008 by KTVU.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.