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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• AJ McCarrell wrote...

  RealityCheck

  I was visiting my mother at the time I called the police. So you are saying that if some looney cuts your mom's phone lines while you are there, you wouldn't grab her and your toddler sister to the car to drive to a phone and call the police? My sister was about 3 or 4 at the time. My mom lives on the Key Peninsula and has no neighbors. She lives on a heavily wooded 7 acre parcel surrounded by vacation homes. Some guy comes over and cuts her phone lines to shut her alarm off. What do you do? Hmmmmm. Don't bother the cops out on the Peninsula, where virtually nothing happens? Gee, I didn't think to bring my gun over to a home where a 3 year old resided. Silly me.

  November 6, 2009 3:40 pm

  121386

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• roomtemp wrote...

  @Jacinto

  There are more 210's still on the road than you think. They are really hard to kill. Mine has enough miles on it to be on its return trip from the moon. Mines the one with NO bullet holes btw... That said, I'm thinking it would be prudent to drive the truck for a while instead of ol' honeybucket, sorry mr. environment.

  I have mixed emotions about the manpower/money used in this procession. While I certainly don't begrudge the guy his funeral, it seems like it would have been better to have it at a big park, like the worlds biggest wake. I also think the manpower would have been better used in combing the area for his killer and capturing him asap. This was about as cold as cold blooded murder can get. I hope this guy gets his time at the end of a rope.

  November 6, 2009 3:44 pm

  121390

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• Borishantu1 wrote...

  Traffic?!

  What a small and egotistical mind it takes to complain about traffic when a family has lost someone! You are disgusting excuses for human beings. Police officer or not, those kids lost their father, try to show some respect.

  November 6, 2009 3:57 pm

  121394

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• Merkin Swiver wrote...

  Officer Brenton

  I just got home from Officer Brenton's memorial; it was a profoundly thoughtful experience. I can't help wondering if some of those whining here were silent (or taking part in) the WTO riots that shut down much of the city a few years ago. Then, instead of hundreds of police officers from Seattle to New York here to pay respect to a fallen colleague, it was hundreds of fecalcephalics from Seattle to Oregon that clogged the streets to commit crimes and act like brain-fried leftist scum always do. Get a clue or perish in the effort.

  November 6, 2009 5:09 pm

  121435

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• wwujw wrote...

  jacinto is a "troll" placing his input to seek attention

  Jacinto I am in agreement with Leon, I think you are not worth giving any more attention to and I would refer to as a "troll"..a "troll" intentionally says things on places like this or radio shows with the sole intent on getting a rise out of people. You are not worth it pal. You missed my point completely and I was not referring to "cold police reports". I'm a police officer and I've had my house and car broken into, but I understood that the time delay was necessary because it was not in progress. I am referring to a time when you will be face to face with your potential killer with a gun pointed at your face. A time when a drunk driver goes head on into you and then flees the scene. All those professions are certainly worthy but loggers and bakers and microsoft executives are not brave in the same sense as police officers. People who sit in cubicles all day long are not heroic. And sometimes if they know who a suspect is, it's not as simple going and arresting them. Unfortunately the King County Prosecutor's office and the ninth circuit court in Washington state have made it difficult to apprehend suspects like that. Read case law and get educated before you start blaming police officers.

  November 7, 2009 11:36 am

  121574

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• mpblue wrote...

  It was a smooth procession

  Yes indeed, I participated. I congratulate SPD and SDOT for the work in smoothly closing and operating the closure and openings. Oddly enough, as we turned on to westbound Madison from 23rd, we passed by my first residence when I moved to Seattle in 1990, just after getting out of the active duty military (my neighborhood for three years, during the height of crime in the CD). Several things gave me pause and hope: 1) A group of school kids from a private school on 23rd standing there and waving to the officers; 2) Down the hill on Denny approaching the I-5 overpass and seeing vehicle extended to Fisher Plaza; 3) Seeing a military vet, in his softcap from the VFW, holding a flag and weeping openly as we passed by. Several times during the procession, vehicles stopped so that pedestrians could cross (such as at the crest of Cap Hill, near the SPD east station, etc.). While on Broadway turning to Denny, we stopped so that a medic unit co go by code to their call or delivery on Broadway. Emergency traffic was never delayed, never stalled. My squad partner and I attended the procession and service on our own time, beginning at 0700 and lasting until after 1500. Many of those in the procession attended voluntarily, off-duty and without being paid. That is what WE do for a brother or sister in arms. Oddly enough for the posters here, folks seem to forget that a military vet was killed as well and honored as such by the presence of the US Army MPs as well as the USAF skycops as well. He served honorably in the military as well as in his peace officer life. If you missed it, an army sergeant carried colors for him in the service. Not one citizen in this region was denied service, no one was at a loss for patrol bodies and policing services in the greater Seattle Metroplex were not affected. Yes indeed, as the situation in Tukwila developed, those brothers and sisters from involved agencies left the Key, being recalled to duty to assist. It was a profound and awe inspiring service. I held it together, even after his final radio call sign. That was until the end as Tim's wife, son and daughter filed past us. When his daughter, very near to the age of my own, looked up to the crowd and gazed across where I was, I saw a small, tired and pale face. How do you explain to any child, whether they be the child of a cop, military member, logger, traffic flagger, waste disposal specialist or whomever, about the loss of their father or parent, especially if they are MURDERED while doing their job (I'm curious to see the stats on that - how many waste disposal experts have been MURDERED in their job)? I pray to the Goddess that my wife will never have to make that sad explanation to my daughter. Over my career, I have lost track how many times I have stopped or been temporarily inconvienced by a passing funeral procession, while on-duty and off duty. It is a sign of respect to stop, pull over and let the passage of the vehicles. I will honor that as other in Seattle and surrounding area, have honored those brothers and sisters in my profession. May the Goddess bless and keep you. Some of you need it more than others . . .

  November 7, 2009 11:37 am

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