Rod Bradway

Rod Lee Bradway, age 41, of Indianapolis, was a devoted husband and loving father whose life was defined by service, compassion, and a big heart for both people and animals. A public servant with deep ties to his community, Rod began his career as a firefighter and EMT with Wayne Township, serving that department for ten years before joining the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in 2007. He brought to his work a steady courage and a practical sense of duty that his family and colleagues remember with pride.

Rod loved his wife, Jamie, and his children, Jonathan and Sierra, and family was central to everything he did. He came from a family with a strong public safety tradition and remained close to his parents, Thomas and Sheri Ann Bradway, and his brother, Chip. Outside of work, Rod gave generously of his time — volunteering with animal rescue groups, supporting the Boy Scouts, helping with the Decatur Central marching band, and officiating high school soccer and basketball. He enjoyed SCUBA diving and treasured time spent with his four dogs.

Colleagues from both the Wayne Township Fire Department and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department remember Rod for his integrity, bravery, and quiet compassion. Services to honor his life were held in Indianapolis and attended by the many friends, family members, and public-safety peers he had touched.

Rod’s family asked that those wishing to remember him consider planting trees or making a donation in his memory. He is survived by his wife, Jamie; son, Jonathan; daughter, Sierra; his parents; his brother and extended family and the many friends and colleagues who counted him as a steady presence in their lives. His commitment to service and the warmth he brought to family and community remain enduring parts of his legacy.