SIDNEY — Community Resource Officer Bryce Stewart, along with Lori Werling, a representative from Crime Stoppers, presented a reward to Baron Brooks pn Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. The award was presented to Brooks for his participation in identifying detrimental impairment done to a bridge constructed a few years ago.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the City Engineering Department received a call from the Eagle Bridge Company informing the city that one of their employees, Baron Brooks, was installing detour signs near the Michigan Street bridge when Brooks noticed an aluminum hand rail was about ready to “come off” of the bridge. Upon closer examination of the railing, Brooks discovered that almost all of the nuts to the bolts securing the handrail to the bridge had been removed and were missing. The missing nuts were indicative of likely “prep work” by would be thieves in the anticipation of returning later to remove the aluminum rail to sell as “scrap.”
The Sidney Police Department was called to which Officer Rachel Croskrey responded to the scene and took a report. The street department secured the hand rail with new nuts to avoid potential removal by unauthorized individuals.
By caring enough and taking the time to inform his employer of this issue, Brooks saved the city of Sidney and the tax payers in excess of $7,000 in replacement costs. But more importantly, Brooks prevented an accident of someone potentially falling from the bridge due to a loose or missing handrail. Because of his actions Brooks was presented with the Sheepdog Award, a Crime Stoppers Coin and reward money. Eagle Bridge matched that reward money for a job well done.
