Sergeant Brenda Steinbrecher Receives Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Award
On October 19, 1999, Sergeant Steinbrecher was on duty, stopped in traffic on I-65 South near I-40, when her vehicle was violently struck from behind by a tractor-trailer rig. As a result, Steinbrecher lost or had damage to eight teeth, suffered hearing loss, and sustained multiple injuries to her head, shoulder, knee, and hip. After months of recuperation, she returned to work in July 2000.
“I was scared that the department was going to try to pension me after the truck accident,” Steinbrecher said. “I came back still in therapy---but I tried to fudge that.”
The following winter, Steinbrecher suffered a dislocated hip. A full body scan revealed an abnormality in her brain, and subsequent tests confirmed a tumor. She had surgery in February 2001 and returned to work in early March. In August 2001, therapy for the hip injury sidelined her briefly, but she was back on the job a month later.
In February 2007, Sergeant Steinbrecher was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery on April 6. She resumed work at the police department on May 29.
Speaking of her chosen profession, Steinbrecher said, “I can’t imagine doing anything else but police work, and I love being the first responder. I can’t imagine not being around my fellow officers, involved with them, helping them. This is my life!”
Steinbrecher currently serves as a day watch patrol supervisor in the North Precinct. North Commander Louise Kelton says Steinbrecher continues to inspire those who work with and for her.
“Sergeant Steinbrecher faced each life-threatening illness with the same tenacity and tremendous courage that she brings to the Metro police department every day,” Kelton said. “She truly believes in making a difference in the lives of others through hard work and accountability.”
Chief Ronal Serpas said it is the perseverance of officers like Brenda Steinbrecher who make policing the noblest profession on earth.
“Sergeant Steinbrecher’s dedication and devotion to Nashville’s citizens and this police department, in the face of very difficult and serious medical issues, serve as a motivation to all of us to be the best we can be. I am tremendously proud of Brenda and her love of police work,” Chief Ronal Serpas said.
“The Metro Police Department is most appreciative that the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s Jim Summerville and his colleagues take time each year to recognize truly outstanding officers and their contributions to our city,” Serpas said.
The Theodore Roosevelt Association established this awards program in honor of Roosevelt’s distinguished service as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City from 1895 to 1897, and in recognition of his lifelong admiration for the police.
Nashville is one of only a few cities in the United States to present the Roosevelt Award. Others include New York City, Buffalo and upstate New York, Boston, Long Island, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
“All his life, Theodore Roosevelt had an interest in the work of the police, and declared in his autobiography that there were no better people anywhere,” said Theodore Roosevelt Association Trustee Jim Summerville. “The 26th President of the United States would be proud to be in Nashville Wednesday to shake the hand of Sergeant Steinbrecher and shout, ‘Bully!’ ”
The generous support of Sprint Communications made this year’s award possible. Through Sprint’s generosity, and that of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, Sergeant Steinbrecher received a $1,000 cash award, a medal, and a bust of Theodore Roosevelt. A bronze plaque, which bears a likeness of Roosevelt, and which is currently on display in the lobby of police headquarters, now includes the inscription of Sergeant Steinbrecher’s name.
Past Metro Police recipients of the Theodore Roosevelt Award were Sgt. Phillip Sage (1998), Detective Clifford Mann (1999), Detective Frank Pierce (2000), Sergeant James (Jimbo) Allen (2001), Officer William Richardson (2002), Detective Joe Cooper (2003), Officer Horace Temple (2004), Officer Foster Hite (2005), Detective Jeff Ball (2006), and Officer Dan Alford (2007).
Information about the activities of the Theodore Roosevelt Association is available on the Internet, http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org.
Sprint Regional Account Manager Susan McGrew (left) presented Sergeant Steinbrecher with a $1,000 award. Also pictured are Chief Ronal Serpas and Theodore Roosevelt Association Trustee Jim Summerville.
Sergeant Steinbrecher was presented with a bust of Theodore Roosevelt by the Theodore Roosevelt Association. Pictured (l-r) are the Theodore Roosevelt Association's Jim Summerville
and Bruce Holley, Sergeant Steinbrecher, and Chief Ronal Serpas.