George W. Bredestege Sr.

George W. Bredestege Sr., devoted father of George W. (Angela) Bredestege, Michael J. (Trina) Bredestege, Jeannette C. Bredestege, and Martha M.“Marti” Bredestege-Gardner, all of Cincinnati. Loving grandfather of Michael Kane, Liesl Neyer, Sarah Menner, Joseph, Diana “Dee Dee”, Kaylee, Grace, Kaitlyn, Matthew and Jeanne Bredestege, Carissa Szalkowski and great-grandchildren Ryann, Collin, Ian, Christian, Jace, Elijah, David, Robert Jr. and Zion. Dear brother of Lawrence and Charles Bredestege, Velma Lough, Paula Hartinger, Betty Lyons and the late Lois Herling, Mary Alice Roeder and Joseph and Frank Bredestege.  Also preceded in death by parents Joseph and Velma Bredestege and his former wife, Martha (nee Deters) Bredestege.  Services will be private. Interment St. Joseph New Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Bayley Place Resident Activities Department, 990 Bayley Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45233. Ralph Meyer & Deters Funeral Home serving the family.

The following was provided by members of the Cincinnati Police Museum:

George attended the Sacred Heart Academy and Sacred Heart Seminary, graduating in 1958. Also beginning in 1958 George worked at Shillito’s Department Store in the stock room. During January 1959 he began working as a mail boy at the General Electric Company and later as a shop apprentice. Also during 1959, George entered college in the Engineering College of the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He switched his major to Police Science and earned an Associate Degree, then a Bachelor of Science degree – while also studying anthropology and archaeology. Over time he took many diverse courses, including computer science and photography, at or sponsored by many institutions including Xavier University, Ohio State University, University of Virginia, Northwestern University, Southern Police Institute, and the FBI Academy.

George joined the Cincinnati Police Division on April 11, 1960 as a Police Cadet. Cadet Bredestege served in Personnel Section (310 Lincoln Park Drive), District 5 (1012 Ludlow), and Central Station (City Jail at City Hall). He was appointed Police Recruit on April 2, 1962 and promoted to Patrolman on July 9, 1962, issued Badge 41, and assigned to District 3 (3201 Warsaw Avenue). On April 14, 1963 he was rotated to District 2 (314 Broadway). On April 14, 1968 he was promoted to Police Specialist and issued Badge PS-143. District Two was disestablished in 1969 and Specialist Bredestege was absorbed into District 1. During 1971 he served as the community liaison between the new Sector Two and the residents inf that sector. A year later, he was named to a task force tasked that created policies for policing in the community sector program. Specialist Bredestege transferred to the Training and Education Section on March 24, 1974 where he became an innovative audio-video expert. He described his work as “easy” and “directed towards preparation to enter the Kingdom of God.”

He was promoted to Sergeant on November 4, 1981, issued Badge S-10, and assigned to District 3. By then, Sergeant Bredestege had become the de facto historian for the Police Division and in addition to educating police recruits in law enforcement history, he would give slide presentations at libraries and other community venues. Sergeant Bredestege also served four years in District 4 (4150 Reading Road). He was regarded by police officers and commanders alike as an excellent supervisor. Sergeant Bredestege retired out of District 3 with 33 letters of appreciation and/or commendation including ten from police chiefs and one each from the City Manager and Hamilton County Sheriff.

He then served part time as a Hamilton County Parks Ranger and retired again in 2006 with 46 years of law enforcement service. He then worked in security at Cincinnati Public Schools and retired again.

Sergeant Bredestege suffered from many maladies and resided at Bayley Community in Delhi for several years. An avid photographer, he captured stunning images in and around the campus and shared them with the world on a dedicated Facebook page.

He contracted COVID in December and was unable to recover. Before his death he was visited and blessed by a bishop and three priests. He began his transition to the Kingdom of God at 5:42 p.m. on Christmas Day 2020 at the age of 80.

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