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Updated Nov 6, 2009 - 6:16 pm

Procession, memorial pays respect to Officer Brenton

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By STEPHANIE KLEIN
MyNorthwest.com

Slain Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton was remembered as a father, brother, husband, friend, teacher and hero at a public memorial service at KeyArena.

Thousands of officers from around the Northwest attended Friday's ceremony, which followed a procession of hundreds of cars with lights flashing through the city.

"As I reflect on the evening of October 31, I see a man of quiet dignity and virtue possessed of a desire to serve and protect, engaged in the most noble of human endeavors. He was teaching. That is what we remember today," said Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer in his opening statement at the ceremony.

Officer Brenton was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car Halloween night with Officer Brit Sweeney. Brenton was making a traffic stop.

"Officer Timothy Brenton was a man worth knowing," said Interim Chief of Police John Diaz, before talking about Brenton's history as a police officer and about his civilian life. "The expression of love that he found, his wife Lisa, his daughter Kayleigh, his son Quinn, probably might be his greatest contribution. His greatest mark as a man, as a husband, as a father."

Officials in attendance included Gov. Chris Gregoire, Sen. Patty Murray, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and former police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.

"Timothy is a home grown hero. He didn't set out to be a hero and Lisa tells me he would be a little chagrined at the fuss we're making about him today. A little chagrined, but very, very proud," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

Nickels thanked the 1,300 police officers serving the city of Seattle. "That means that there are about 1,300 families who, each day, say goodbye to their loved one and don't know whether they might not get that awful call that the Brenton family got last Saturday.

"Our police officers are our city's most visible public servants. They are dedicated and they do an excellent job day in and day out and I want to thank you for that service," said Nickels.

With a shaky voice, Governor Gregoire said, "Mike and I want to personally express our condolences to Officer Brenton's family. She added, "As Officer Brenton demonstrated, putting on the uniform is an act of courage every day, every time."

Honor guards with bagpipes, drums and flags took part in the ceremony.

Memorial service program of events:

Welcome - Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer
Posting of Colors - Regional Honor Guard
U.S. National Anthem - Seattle Police Women's Trio
Canadian National Anthem - Seattle Police Women's Trio
Invocation - Chaplain John Oas
Interim Chief of Police John Diaz
Mayor Greg Nickels
Governor Christine Gregoire
Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy R. Gil Kerlikowske
I Will Remember You - Seattle Police Women's Trio
Officer Evan Ehring
Officer Eugene Schubeck
Jennifer Crigger, Sister-in-Law
Video Presentation
Amazing Grace - Seattle Police Women's Trio
Benediction - Chaplain John Oas
Retiring of Colors and Recessional


Comments (46)
  • Add A Comment

  • jacinto wrote...
    This is certain to slow ambulances down today.
    This showboating parade is very arrogant, unnecessary, and a slap in the face to all those who have lost loved ones, fathers, brothers, and uncles in equally or more dangerous professions. This "next time you need a cop" line is a bunch of garbage. How about next time you need a logger to produce wood for the house you live in, next time you need an electric lineman to give you lights, heat and hot water in your home, or next time you need a construction worker to risk his life constructing buildings for you to live and work in. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of officer Brenton. However I really don't think we need to take away the precious moments and minutes from every hard working citizen of Seattle that will have to leave his or her family two hours earlier for work today to beat this cluster. Also, there is likely to be AT LEAST one ambulance on the way to harborview that gets slowed down by this parade. Is it really worth risking lives for this?
    November 6, 2009 9:24 am
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  • Chris74 wrote...
    I agree with jacinto
    Totally agree 100%. MyNorthwest.com took down my comment earlier about this being way over the top.
    November 6, 2009 9:42 am
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  • AJ McCarrell wrote...
    Totally agreed
    Do other people get this kind of parade when they die? Um, no. Do Iraqi war vets get this kind of parade? Um, no. The mayor or some other official MIGHT get this kind of treatment. Yes, this was not an ideal situation, but this is getting ridiculous. This is way over the top.
    November 6, 2009 9:59 am
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  • montanarose wrote...
    Its not over the top
    If somebody dies and thousands of people want to come to the funeral than this is what happens. The average person, even military, has only a hundred or so that want to come, if that many. This is totally the right thing to do, where I come from any funeral, and I mean any has the right of way on the roads.
    November 6, 2009 10:04 am
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  • Marinerfan24 wrote...
    Unbelieveable nonsense!
    First- my condolences to the officer's family. I am sure it is a very hard time for them and I hope they find the killer. With that said- THERE IS NO EXCUSE for screwing up traffic (even more) in our city. They kept Pine closed past my condo for an hour... I'm glad I did not need to go South because there was NO WAY! Just over the top and ridiculous.
    November 6, 2009 10:12 am
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  • cjcf48 wrote...
    Get over it
    Your are self-centered. The world is not about only you. Get over it. You can spend "precious moments" doing whatever you want to do. Why don't you let others who want to spend their "precious moments" paying their respects to Officer Brenton do so also. Do not try to dictate what they should or should not do.
    November 6, 2009 10:12 am
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  • Marinerfan24 wrote...
    LOL @ cjcf48
    Yes... you must be right. because those who disagreed with their lives being shut down are the ones who dictated. The SPD, along with hundreds who don't live here (nor did they know Benton), dictated to me and hundreds of others who were just trying to go through their daily routines. Additionally, I wonder who is paying for this?? I am... I am not opposed to them having a reasonable and appropriate service. Closing down major streets through our traffic choked city for over an hour is NOT reasonable, nor appropriate!
    November 6, 2009 10:38 am
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  • markm5997 wrote...
    What a bunch of jerks you guys are!
    You people are just plain jerks. The community wants to take a couple of hours to honor a young man cut down in the prime of his life and you want to belly ache about traffic tie-ups the procession will cause. How sad for you! This is not an everyday occurrence and it's not that his life was more precious than others, but it was that his job was to protect the community and died in service to us. If you don't support the event, that's fine. But have some self-respect and don't trash it just because you disagree.
    November 6, 2009 10:48 am
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  • len98531 wrote...
    wow
    it's so sad that all these self-inportant people posting on here have been inconvienienced by all the goings-on and might have to take an alternate route...you know, like one of us normal, unimportant types!
    November 6, 2009 10:53 am
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  • SiCoFgOvErNmEnT wrote...
    Just keep your comments to yourselves!
    I'm sick in tired of people getting on here, saying electricians have hard jobs, heck I have a harder job then an electrician! This cop was ASSASSINATED! This was a hit not only on the Seattle Police Department, but this was a hit, a low blow if you will on OUR COMMUNITIES! That lil' weasel that did this wanted to make a point, and he did very well. NOW! We're making our point! I agree we shouldn't do this for really any politician I get sick of that more then I would ever get sick of honoring a police officer! At least the officer has a job to do, and doesn't lie to the public for the most part! All politicians lie.. You should never honoring LIARS no matter if their on your side or not!
    November 6, 2009 10:53 am
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