Updated Nov 6, 2009 - 6:16 pm

Procession, memorial pays respect to Officer Brenton

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• Photos: Honoring Officer Timothy Brenton
  
• Listen to the memorial (part 1)
  
• Listen to the memorial (part 2)
  
• Photos of suspect vehicle in officer murder released
  

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

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• Realitycheck wrote...

  Wow

  Man, how self-centered and selfish we have become.....if it wasn't so sad I would laugh at these idiots complaining about this funeral. Must be same jerks that shut down roads all over Seattle protesting some redicilous crap. And as far as slowing ambulances down, I bet jacinto is they selfish jerk that cuts ambluances off just to get home 2 sec earlier to watch his precious reality TV show. Oh my gawd grow up people and respect what deserves respect, if you want your life to be not affected by other people move to Alaska in wilderness, nobody will shut down a road there, exceopt for maybe a fallen tree

  November 6, 2009 11:18 am

  121227

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• montanarose wrote...

  just a thought

  If the streets had been shut down for something else, like say a gay pride parade? Wonder who would be yelping then.

  November 6, 2009 12:13 pm

  121250

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• jacinto wrote...

  I have a tip!

  This will surely solve the case. Please send the $105,000.00 reward not to me but to the family of the fallen officer if my tip works to solve the crime. Go to the DMV. Look up the registration of the 4 or 5 of these datsun 210 hatchback editions that are still on the road and registered here in Washington. Of the four or five, find the owner of the one that is the same color as the shooters car. Once you've found the owner, get a search warrant and check his house. Look for a gun that is the same caliber of the shooter's weapon. Additionally, the PD may try checking their data bases and see who is both a registered 1980-1983 datsun b210 hatchback owner and a registered gun owner of the weapon matching the one used in the crime. If all that fails, round up the owners of all the 80-83 datsun owners in the state and give them all polygraph tests. Hope this helps!

  November 6, 2009 12:19 pm

  121255

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• AJ McCarrell wrote...

  Inequality

  My problem isn't the fact that it was shut down, it was because it was shut down ad the cop gets a bit of favoritism. As I said before, do Iraqi war dead get the roads shut down for them, how about the troops that died in Afghanistan? How about the WWII vets that saved us all from Hitler? No, we don't close the street for them. We closed the streets today because of a media frenzy and because it was a local public servant. Many people die all the time in defense of their countries and communities and make far greater sacrifices. We don't shut the streets down for the real heroes. Yes, the cop was murdered, not assassinated... The real blow against the community was Chris Harris and the departments refusal to hold Matt Paul accountable for his actions.

  November 6, 2009 1:13 pm

  121279

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• jacinto wrote...

  I don't get it.

  How come when you assassinate a police officer the city gets shut down and people are ready to hang the killer from the nearest tree, but when you assassinate the tuba man you get 18 months? Do we really think tuba man is that worthless compared to a cop? My heart goes out to the families of both victims, but especially to the wife of tuba man. This parade must really hurt her feelings and make her feel like the community sees her deceased husband as worthless.

  November 6, 2009 1:20 pm

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• Dede wrote...

  favoritism?

  In my home town, we DO shut down streets for our heros, be it at home or abroad. We honor their service to our country/community. We strive to comfort the families left behind. We are Proud of of them and of their sacrifice. But, then again, I'm from a town of about 75k is in the middle of Texas - So, I guess my opinion doesn't count. God Bless our Heros!

  November 6, 2009 1:21 pm

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• Ted Jones wrote...

  It’s sickening…

  A police officer was assassinated, at random. It was obviously a planned hit, and some of you have the audacity to complain about traffic?!?!?! Do you think all of his friends and family WANT to be at his FUNERAL right now? Show a little compassion. As inconvenienced as people may be today with traffic, think about all of his friends and family who are literally pouring their hearts out right now. The precession that followed Tim Brenton was ABSOLUTLEY warranted as a result of such a cowardly and vicious attack.

  November 6, 2009 1:24 pm

  121294

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• D-Leon wrote...

  You Just Don't Understand...Until You Need Them

  I have to say to see these complaints’, very sad. I've lived in multiple major cities several the size of Seattle and they treat their fallen men and women of service with great respect. The people here who complain have no idea of what acts of bravery it takes to volunteer and then be put in harm’s way. When the World Trade Center towers collapse, it was the men and women Police Officers and Fire Fighters who ran into the building while the civilians ran out for safety. You who complain are selfish and can only dream to have an ounce of bravery these men and women have. I hope none of you never need their services one day.

  November 6, 2009 1:38 pm

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• wwujw wrote...

  marinerfan, grow up

  Marinerfan24, I am assuming you are 18 years old as I write this. Please give me the benefit of the doubt. Do I even have to explain to you how important this police officer was? Not was he only killed in the line of duty, but he was blindsided and assasinated by a calculated cold blooded killer. You probably do not know what public service or community service is like. I assume every night you have the safety net with your job of knowing you will get to see your family every night. You can go about your own business and not have to worry about endangering yourself with others' problems. Why are you so critical of the procession tradition? Are you critical of teachers when they stand out and block sidewalks when they decide to strike?? Are you so critical of boeing machinists when they line up on the roadways and attempt to send a message by striking?? This is our way of sending a message to the family of Officer Brenton or any other person who dies in the line of duty while serving the public. If your little daily routine was disturbed by this event, my friend I tell you there are worse things in life than having your routine disturbed. You had all week to plan around this traffic, this was not announced spontaneously. Just remember this marinerfan. God forbid the day when someone points a gun in your face and demands your money or points a gun in the faces of your family, remember who will be the first to respond to help you. God forbid if you find yourself in a shopping mall and an active shooter decides to take lives, as you and several others run away, who will run to subdue the suspect?

  November 6, 2009 1:40 pm

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