Video: Memorial for murdered forest service officer

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PORT ANGELES, Wash. - Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and thousands of friends and colleagues on Monday paid tribute to U.S. Forest Service officer Kristine Fairbanks, who died in the line of duty in the Olympic National Forest.

The procession into civic stadium in Port Angeles was so long it shut down parts of Highway 101.

Townspeople lined the streets, and local reader boards paid tribute to Fairbanks.

Inside the stadium, more than 100 police dogs, including Kristine's own K-9 companion Radar surrounded the stage in her honor.

Fairbanks, a wife and mother of 15-year-old daughter, was shot to death earlier this month during a routine traffic stop in Sequim.

Her job was often dangerous, tracking drug runners, poachers and tree thieves.

Gregoire called Fairbanks a remarkable woman.

"She was incredibly brave, working alone in the woods with just her police dog. Kris knew that trouble could barge in at any time, be it timber poachers or meth labs, yet she never hesitated. She was a skilled guardian who protected our people and our natural resources," said Gregoire.

KING

The American flag is folded at a memorial for Forest Service Officer Kristine Fairbanks, who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Anne Minden said Fairbanks was her best friend, as well as a partner in investigating thefts of ancient cedar trees in the Olympic National Forest.

Minden said Fairbanks once took her to see a massive tree that she was watching over like a mother hen.

"Kris had tacked her business card to all four sides of that tree," said Minden. "On the front of her business card, she had written the phrase 'smile at the camera,' followed by her favorite unrepeatable word used to describe bad guys."

Just two days after Fairbanks' death, three men pleaded guilty to to conspiring to steal and damage 31 old growth western cedar trees. She had been the lead investigator in the case.

As they continue grieving, friends and family of Kris Fairbanks are extending their condolences to family of Richard Ziegler, also killed in this incident.

The man believed responsible for murdering Fairbanks and Ziegler was later killed in a shootout with police.

Fairbanks is responsible for tracking well over 1,000 criminals in America's forests throughout her career.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kristine Fairbanks Fund at any First Federal Savings and Loan branch www.ourfirstfed.com

Cards and letters for Kris Fairbanks' family may be mailed in care of: Olympic National Forest - Pacific Ranger District, 437 Tillicum Lane, Forks,WA 98331.