DANIEL BRUCH, 32 / Police Officer, Sergeant of Regional DUI Task Force, Roanoke County Police Department
Since Daniel Bruch was a kid, he knew he wanted to be a police officer. After majoring in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology and graduating from Lynchburg College, Bruch has worked for the Roanoke County Police Department since 2010, adding multiple roles to his responsibilities, including but not limited to the Community Policing Coordinator, the Traffic Enforcement Unit, the Bicycle Response Team Squad Leader, creating Roanoke County’s first Youth Police Academy and facilitating the Citizen’s Public Safety Academy. Each position has been a learning experience and has taught me a different skill set to help me better serve our community,” he says. “I enjoy getting to know the citizens who make this community great as well as letting them get to know me, not just as a police officer but as a normal citizen just like them. … These relationships have helped me become a better police officer.”
- Trained as a fatal crash investigator while in the Traffic Enforcement Unit
- Currently a Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspector
- Bicycle Response Team Squad Leader/ Coordinator
- Served as an instructor within the Police Academy in topics such as: crash investigations, traffic law, crime prevention, missing persons, project lifesaver, traffic stops and DUIs
- Participated in/graduated from Leadership Roanoke Valley (Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program)
- Named Roanoke County Police Department’s 2014 Traffic Officer of the Year
- Served as a Field Training Officer for new Police Officers
- Named Roanoke County Police Department’s 2011 Rookie of the Year
- Named Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Officer of the Month (September 2011)
From the Nomination: “Through his time with the department, Bruch has quickly grown in the ranks from a patrol officer, to police officer II, police officer III and now a Sergeant. In his prior role of Community Policing Coordinator, he was able to connect to and build relationships with community neighborhood watch groups, local businesses and assisted local families that were a part of the Project Lifesaver Program (an assistive program for those with mental disabilities, memory impairments and autism). In his current role as Sergeant of the Regional DUI Task Force, Bruch works as the lead for a multi-jurisdiction team supervising officers from Roanoke City, Salem, Vinton and Roanoke County with the sole purpose of reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road. His passion and dedication for police is evident through his involvement in numerous aspects of the department. Bruch also loves the education aspect and being involved with teaching the police recruits. Serving as a lead instructor for a variety of topics during their intensive training, Daniel wants all officers that cross his path to be fully prepared and safe while on the road. It takes a certain type of person to be a police officer. It can be a thankless job most days, but Daniel truly loves serving the Roanoke County community.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
Bruch: “I love a natural beauty of Roanoke and the easy access to the outdoors. I love being outdoors and enjoy fishing, hunting and hiking. The Roanoke Valley and surrounding area offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy and take advantage of these hobbies.”
