SEATTLE – Thousands of people, including law enforcement from across the country and Canada, filled KeyArena Friday afternoon for a memorial service to honor slain Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton.
Honor guards with bagpipes, drums and flags took part in the ceremony.
"In honoring Tim, we will honor the values he stood for and lived by," said Interim Police Chief John Diaz. "It was Winston Churchill who noted that the truly great aspects of the human condition are fundamentally simple. In fact, they could be expressed in single words - freedom, justice, honor and duty. And the most defining of the human qualities - courage. Simple words to say. Far more difficult to achieve, and yet Tim embodied those qualities."
Diaz also thanked rookie officer Britt Sweeney, who survived the shooting that killed Brenton, for her courage under fire. He vowed that those responsible for Brenton's death would be brought to justice.
"In this, our darkest hour of grief, let us remember Officer Timothy Brenton. Let us be inspired by his service. Let us be humbled by his sacrifice," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.
"As officer Brenton demonstrated, putting on the uniform is an act of courage every day, every time," said Gov. Christine Gregoire. "His service was noble. It was selfless. It was for the cause of justice."
After speaking, Gregoire presented a State of Washington flag to Brenton's family.
More than 1,000 police cars escorted Officer Brenton's remains from the University of Washington Friday morning through the streets of Seattle to KeyArena.
As the procession passed the East Precinct at about 9:37 a.m., officers and brass stood at attention. Mourners stood across the street from the precinct, some with hands over their hearts, fighting back tears of sorrow. For those who work at the precinct, they know the job must go on.
"It's for the family. That's why you do it is for the family. We have to be strong for the family," said Lt. Sean O'Donnell. "There will be a lot of tears shed by a lot of people and it will be well OK."
On Denny Way near the Space Needle, two Seattle Fire Department ladder trucks hoisted an American flag, creating an arch with their ladders as the procession passed underneath.
As the procession arrived at KeyArena, hundreds of officers lined the walk from First Avenue to the arena entrance to escort Officer Brenton's remains inside for the funeral.
Seattleites lined First Avenue outside the Arena, including friends of the fallen officer and strangers like Brad Hawkins, who brought his 2-year-old son to witness this dark moment in the city's history. Hawkins has seen firsthand how the killing is touching so many lives.
"Stopped a police officer and just offered my condolences and turned out that he knew (Brenton) personally and the family. We just had a big teary moment on Monday. It was really something," said Hawkins.
Many are emotionally torn between anger at the killer, frustration over his ability to elude police and deep sadness for the Brenton family.
For some, the service is simply a time to remember and respect.
"I have brothers on law enforcement. If it happened to them I would hope the public would show the same support. That's what I'm here for," said Seattle resident Greg Beavers.
Brenton leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 8 and 11.
Among the mourners at KeyArena were King Co. Executive-elect Dow Constantine, Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Jim McDermott.
Minutes after the memorial, Seattle police along with several other agencies arrested a person of interest in Officer Brenton's murder at an apartment complex in Tukwila. That person was shot by police and taken to the hospital.
seahawks83607 said on November 6, 2009 at 10:04 AM
R,I,P OFFICER BRENTON. MY HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY, I HOPE THEY GET THE PERSON OR PERSONS THAT DID THIS
fppco said on November 6, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I to come from a family of law enforcement My brother-in-law is a detective for a southern Florida metro area. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. in this time of need.
danrush said on November 6, 2009 at 11:53 AM
The people of Seattle should be shining the shoes of every officer in the SPD, God knows you liberal idiots have spouted enough hate of the police in the past 20 years! God bless Tiger Tim and a quick violent death to the one who assassinated him, may you rot in hell!
sjean said on November 6, 2009 at 12:29 PM
danrush - its comments like that that really take away from what this message is supposed to mean. It has nothing to do with liberal anything, a life was lost, plain and simple. For you to cloud that with liberal this, or shine the shoes of anything really dampens and darkens this day even more. Respect the dead and honor their legacy, keep your opinionated b.s. to yourself. God bless Tim's family and may the person responsible for this be caught and suffer the same fate.
golden said on November 6, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Thanks danrush you said it well - I agree !!
l39pilot09 said on November 6, 2009 at 1:05 PM
I saw a lot of people today after the procession, hugging, shaking the hands and thanking Law Enforcement Officers for all their hard word. And that this monster is caught as quickly as possible.
cecnow said on November 6, 2009 at 1:35 PM
After reading this article the city has finally done SOMETHING COMPLETELY RIGHT!!! Now let's catch the murderers of this fine officer. There are SO many good stories of officers who serve us. Don't ever let the media slant your opionion by only giving negative police stories. Thank you all police officers for a job well done, it is appreciated!!!
krazkat said on November 6, 2009 at 3:03 PM
RIP, my prayers are with your family.
dr_cooper said on November 6, 2009 at 4:05 PM
They may have shot and captured the perp in Tukwila!!!!! go the channel 2
seafairpiratespr said on November 6, 2009 at 4:12 PM
On behalf of all the Seafair Pirates and several of our members who once belonged, or who have retired from the Seattle Police dept.; Our thoughts, prayers and wishes are with your family. Our admiration, respect and thanks are with you officer Brenton as, you have made the ultimate sacrifice; to lay down your life so that others may be safe. May God bless you and may He shine upon and protect your family in the days ahead .
tweety37 said on November 6, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Our hearts and prayers go to officer Brenton's family and fellow officers. We have family in the military and who are police officers. We thank the officers for taking care of the public and risk their lives every time they walk out of their precinct, in every state around the country. God bless officer Brenton and all the officers in the country.
dakotanative said on November 6, 2009 at 8:22 PM
It is great what they did for the officer, and I feel for his family, but over 3000 troops have come home in a casket, many with barely their name spoken. Sure, it would be impossible to throw a shinding like this for each of them, but Seattle has slapped every one of them in the face with the extravegance of this event.
factoid said on November 6, 2009 at 9:57 PM
RIP officer Brenton, looks like your killer has been apprehended, thanks to citizens and your fellow officers.
apennythought said on November 6, 2009 at 11:38 PM
dakotanative, I watched nearly the whole service on TV today, and I didn't see a whole lot happening there that didn't happen at my own family's and friend's funerals or the graveside services of veterans we have known. The main difference I noticed was the number of people attending, and that a lot of people got to watch it on TV (and I, for one, was glad to have something of this quality and value to watch - much better than the usual daytime drivel). It seemed to me that most of the people attending were there on their own dime, although organized into groups from the same area. And I think it's entirely reasonable that they might all have actually been at least acquainted with him, since his work undoubtedly brought him into contact with a great many people in various police forces and in the community. I may be mistaken on this one, but is not Key Arena privately owned and operated? I don't think the City of Seattle did much, except give permission to block streets.
apennythought said on November 7, 2009 at 12:19 AM
dakotanative, Any community that cared could have a memorial like this for their fallen military personnel, if the owner of an arena would donate it for a day and the community authorities gave permission for streets to be blocked for a procession. I agree that such memorials should be done and televised locally. Maybe someone who cares just needs to ask. Maybe some communities actually do that already, just not where you have lived.