Police Officer Bradley W. Matteson, Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana

Police Officer Bradley W. Matteson

Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana

End of Watch Thursday, October 5, 2000

Bradley W. Matteson

Police Officer Bradley Matteson died shortly after being involved in a vehicle accident.

He was returning from a service call when his cruiser was struck by a semitrailer which had run a red light at State Street and Coliseum Boulevard. The cruiser was flipped over and the driver's side doors were crushed and had to be pried open in order to free Officer Matteson. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later. The driver of the other vehicle pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Officer Matteson had served with the Fort Wayne Police Department for 19 years and had planned to retire in 2001. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Bio

Age 43
Tour 19 years
Badge 157

Incident Details

Cause Automobile crash

Most Recent Reflection

View all 160 Reflections

I was the last officer to see him and talk with him, only minutes before the crash. We were both sent to the RediMed at Maplecrest and Trier Rds. for an alarm.

I arrived first, checked it out and was about to tell Brad to disregard over the radio. He pulls into the driveway on that chilly, misty, foggy night. He rolls down his window and, referencing the weather, said, “ Tonight would be a nice night to sleep.”

I said yup, it would. He quietly rolled away in his squad not knowing he had only minutes to live.

And that’s how it happens. Sometimes, we have no idea what lies ahead.

Ptl. Jerry Mericle
FWPD (ret.)

February 9, 2018