Local trooper receives regional honor
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STEUBENVILLE -- Brody Robinson said two incidents in his life had a big impact on his decision to become an officer with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Named Trooper of the Year for both the OSHP's Steubenville Post and its Cambridge District, Robinson is one of nine troopers being considered for the honor of State Trooper of the Year.
He said like many boys, he dreamed of being a law enforcement officer, but his interest in the highway patrol was piqued in an unlikely way.
Robinson recalled riding in a car driven by his mother one day when she was pulled over for speeding by a state trooper.
The officer's uniform and demeanor made a strong impression on him, though following his graduation from Carrollton High School in 2016, he didn't immediately pursue that vocation.
Robinson said he had been working in various jobs, from a local steel mill to a landscaping business he ran with friends, when a tragic incident occurred.
His best friend, Conner Keane, had been in an accident, and he was the first to arrive at the scene.
Robinson said Keane had been thrown from his all-terrain vehicle and he tried multiple times to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation to his friend before an ambulance arrived.
Described as a free spirit with great concern for others, Keane died as a result of injuries received in the accident at the age of 22.
"That was a pivotal moment in my life. It's right then that I feel I went onto the right track," said Robinson.
"It made me want to go out and stop things like that," he said.
Robinson said too often drivers become complacent about speeding, not considering it often leads to serious accidents.
"I tell people, it won't happen to you until it does," he said, adding, "One day, someone pulling out in front of you is all it takes."
After graduating from the OSHP Academy in January 2020, Robinson was assigned to the Steubenville post and it's the second year he's been named its Trooper of the Year.
Lt. Robert Bodo, the post's commander, said each year troopers at the post choose one of their own for the honor, which is based on an officer's leadership skills, professional and work ethics, courteous treatment of others and cooperation with supervisors, peers and the public.
A panel of district officers interviewed Robinson and several other troopers for the district honor, and another will interview him and other candidates for State Trooper of the Year.
Bodo said of Robinson, "I've been impressed with him. For the amount of time he's been here, he has done an amazing job."
When he's not helping his wife to care for their son, Robinson, who is 25, enjoys gardening and has shared his produce with many others.