CHICAGO — Bryant Brewer was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for the 2010 murder of Chicago Police Officer Thor Soderberg. During the sentencing hearing, Soderberg's family gave tearful testimony of his good deeds and compassion he showed while on the job.
His sister Diane Sainsot took the stand Wednesday and shared a story about how the veteran officer was once called to a store robbery where he found a young boy who had stolen a belt.
The boy told Officer Soderberg that other kids were mocking him because his pants always fell down, which is why he needed a belt, Sainsot said.
Soderberg then bought the belt for the boy and asked the store owner not to press charges. The boy promised to never steal again, according to Sainsot.
He didn't want the boy to start his life with a criminal record, Sainsot testified.
"Thor was so proud of being a Chicago police officer because he knew he could do positive things for Chicago and its citizens with his uniform on," she said.
Sainsot also recalled a time Soderberg was working with police recruits and he advised a trainee to run every day to prepare for the physical. "When she told him she didn't have anyone to run with, naturally, Thor said he would run with her. And they did every day at lunch hour," Sainsot said.
Soderberg was "someone who gave everything to everyone," Cook County Judge Timothy Joyce said when he sentenced Brewer to life in prison plus 115 years, to be served consecutively.
Brewer was convicted in August for first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Soderberg.
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