Sunday, November 1, 2009
Crime "This Was an Assassination."
Posted by Eli Sanders on Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 5:01 PM
- Kelly O
- A memorial at the site of last night's killing.
The mayor, Greg Nickels, walked into the briefing room at Seattle Police headquarters downtown this afternoon wearing a dark suit and grim face. Behind him, four of the city's top-ranking officers, all wearing black bands over their badges.
“We ask you to do a difficult and dangerous job, and you do it every day with excellence," Nickels said, addressing both the officers behind him and the entire Seattle police force. "Please know that you are not alone in this difficult time.”
Nickels announced the name of the eight-year Seattle police department veteran who was gunned down last night while parked in a patrol car in Leschi: Timothy Brenton, 39.
The mayor called the incident "a cold-blooded, premeditated shooting."
Brenton had a wife and two children, ages 8 and 11, and came from a family that is filled with people devoted to public safety. His father is a retired Seattle police officer. So is his uncle. His brother-in-law works for the Seattle Fire Department.
Last night, after completing a traffic stop at around 9:30 p.m., Brenton and a police department trainee, Brit Sweeney, had parked their patrol car on 29th Avenue near Yesler Way. They were discussing how the stop had gone. "Debriefing," said Jim Pugel, the city's chief detective, as he recounted what police currently understand about the conversation and the subsequent events.
The patrol car was facing south. A small car—whitish or light-blue or silvery in color—approached from behind. As this car pulled up alongside the officers' patrol car, Sweeney sensed danger. She shouted. She ducked. An unknown number of shots, fired from an unknown weapon, slammed into the patrol car, killing Brenton instantly. One of the bullets grazed Sweeney's back, even though she was wearing a protective vest beneath her uniform.
Sweeney called for backup. All available officers in the city responded. She got out of the patrol car and fired back. She'd been on the job as a trainee for a total of six months. Pugel said she showed the coolness and good instincts of a ten-year veteran.
The vehicle the shots came from, containing an unknown number of people, backed up, drove away, and disappeared.
"It's a miracle she's alive," Pugel said of Sweeney. “This was an assassination, and every resource is being used to bring it to a conclusion.”
- Kelly O
- The police procession this afternoon, delivering the body of Timothy Brenton to the Bonney-Watson funeral home on Broadway.
Police are now looking at the patrol car's on-board camera, talking to witnesses, following leads. “We have people who may have seen it," Pugel said. "We’re still trying determine exactly if they did, and who saw it immediately after.”
Police also have arrested a man who was released from jail yesterday and may have made remarks about intended violence toward police officers. However, Pugel downplayed the significance of the arrest. He asked the public for more tips, suggestions for businesses in the area with video cameras, and any Halloween night photos taken last night in Leschi that might have the suspected vehicle—or anything unusual—in the background.
Pugel urged people with potentially helpful information to call the Seattle police tip line (206.233.5000) or Crime Stoppers, which is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case (1.800.222.TIPS or text to 274637 with Tip486 in the body of the text).
There had been no recent threats made against Brenton, according to Pugel. "Other than him being a police officer," he said, "there's nothing to indicate they were looking for him."
In an effort to keep Slog's discourse respectful and on topic, commenting on this post is now available only to registered commenters.
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1
"Execution" is the word I used when I first heard this. Brutal. Please, please, please solve this crime and get that piece of shit off the streets soon.
5
Awful.
This guy ain't gonna go quietly once the cops find him. Hope no one else gets killed by this fuck.
This guy ain't gonna go quietly once the cops find him. Hope no one else gets killed by this fuck.
14
not to diminish the tragedy of this sad event, but i think "assassination" is misused here.
i hope they find the fucker(s) and bring him/her/them to justice.
i hope they find the fucker(s) and bring him/her/them to justice.
18
Can we get a few posts here from people who aren't either racists or cop-haters? Is that too much to ask?
19
This is a tragedy. To read about the family left behind makes it even worse.
I am ashamed of Slog comments, as usual when the subject matter is serious.
I am ashamed of Slog comments, as usual when the subject matter is serious.
21
This is so sad. I know being shot at comes with being a cop. But a cheap shot is a cheap shot. The police officers that were shot were not perusing the shooters. Senseless violence.
22
Very sad. The photo of the memorial plot reminds me that cops shouldn't be thought of strictly as stern, buzzkilling authoritarians, which I've certainly been guilty of. Condolences to all friends and family of slain officer. A husband and family man too.
And boy there sure are a lot of lousy comments in here. how pathetic that right away the dialogue goes into charges of racism, tired and predictable hipster/hippie bashing (related to a story about a cop killing? really?), "shouldn't this be an expected part of the job" talk, and all this other crap
And boy there sure are a lot of lousy comments in here. how pathetic that right away the dialogue goes into charges of racism, tired and predictable hipster/hippie bashing (related to a story about a cop killing? really?), "shouldn't this be an expected part of the job" talk, and all this other crap
25
why don't police cars have bulletproof windows?
(btw, this incident is soooo sad, and the comments here are completely insensitive.... i'm ashamed to share this city with some of these folks....)
(btw, this incident is soooo sad, and the comments here are completely insensitive.... i'm ashamed to share this city with some of these folks....)
28
Police officers have very tough jobs. (It's not like being a firefighter where everyone is always happy when they show up.) I think the thing here is that there can be no mercy shown to whoever did this. In our society, the death penalty (which I have a gray zone for - no killing cops or kids and traitors) should be used judiciously but this guy (and I'm sure it is a guy) should get it.
My deepest sympathies to his family - there are two children who don't have a father tonight.
And boy, we should be so lucky to have such a cool-headed smart person like Officer Sweeney training to be SPD. I'm sure it was quite shocking for her to be part of it but she sure kept her head.
My deepest sympathies to his family - there are two children who don't have a father tonight.
And boy, we should be so lucky to have such a cool-headed smart person like Officer Sweeney training to be SPD. I'm sure it was quite shocking for her to be part of it but she sure kept her head.
30
Yeah, good going, random thug #92021. You killed a cop. You're a big fucking hero and you're going to make a world of difference, as I'm sure you'll realize when your story reaches the happy ending it's bound to have. Way to make a positive contribution to humanity.
31
Eli's report is more detailed than what was in the Times; the photos, too, tell more of the story. Slog and Stranger deserve credit for the quality of attention paid.
36
Probably 99.8% of the SPD are your average (?) people just doing their jobs the best that they were trained. Its the .2% that we get righteously pissed about. But that shouldn't negate the other 99.8% who lay their lives on the line for people like us, whether we like them or not.
That Officer Sweeney, a ROOKIE fresh out of the academy was able to keep her head under fire shows the training that she was given was well-placed. We need more cops like her, not less. And we need more trainers like Officer Brenton. Unfortunately, we have one less.
Frankly, I don't think ANY murderer should be shown mercy, whether their victim is a cop, child, black, white, gay, straight. Luckily, we have a justice system that I am not in charge of.
That Officer Sweeney, a ROOKIE fresh out of the academy was able to keep her head under fire shows the training that she was given was well-placed. We need more cops like her, not less. And we need more trainers like Officer Brenton. Unfortunately, we have one less.
Frankly, I don't think ANY murderer should be shown mercy, whether their victim is a cop, child, black, white, gay, straight. Luckily, we have a justice system that I am not in charge of.
40
I remember when that Mars Hill guy went "missing" and comments where shut off out of respect for the families involved. Well, that turned out to be a case of "get me the fuck out of my marriage please", but regardless, the precedent was nice. A man is dead, his family and friends are freshly mourning. Maybe this merits the same treatment?
41
The only thing that will save the CD is more diversity seeking, guilty white liberals moving in and gentrifying the place. Keep 'em coming.
42
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Officer Brenton. What a senseless horrible tragedy. Thank you Officer Brenton for serving your community and your country.
43
I'm with 40-
Overall, these comments are horrible. They should be turned off. Grieving families have internet, just like the rest of us. There is a small chance that one of them might bump into this.
Overall, these comments are horrible. They should be turned off. Grieving families have internet, just like the rest of us. There is a small chance that one of them might bump into this.
44
There many different kinds of assholes on Slog. I hope you people who use this as an opportunity to express your hatred of the police are very young, because you're obviously very stupid. You're no better than the racists.
45
Some of these comments are horrible, and shame on SLOG for allowing them. This was a cold-blooded murder of a police officer who was sitting with a trainee in a parked car. I feel terrible for the family and friends of Officer Brenton, and am proud that we have officers like Officer Sweeney.
SLOG, turn off these hateful comments.
SLOG, turn off these hateful comments.
46
Has anyone called Judge Brian Gain's chambers to ask about which criminals he's let loose on the streets lately? That might be a good place to start in looking for this suspect. It helped find Teresa Butz' murderer.
47
Let's not kid ourselves, cops can be dicks; it's part of their job. Sometimes it's necessary and other times its not. I do believe they are humans who have tough and at times, thankless job. I know I wouldn't want to be a cop, not because of fear but public scrutiny. Unless we pack heat, who are we as citizens going to call when the shit hits the fan? And who lost a father on what is supposed to be one of the happiest holidays for a kid.
48
RIP Officer Brenton. I don't agree with everything SPD does, but the men and women of the police force work tirelessly every day and night to keep us safe. When there is a cold-blooded killing of an officer, it is an attack on society. I hope they find the person responsible for this and prosecute the person to the fullest extent of the law.
49
What a dreadful, senseless, disgusting piece of pointless brutality this is. Having just suffered a violent family tragedy myself, I am especially sickened by this. My condolences to Officer Brenton's family and friends, and to the SPD.
50
It's too bad The Stranger is censoring comments so wildly in this thread. Why can't you let us see what is being said? Anyone who is easily offended shouldn't be reading The Stranger anyway. Did this suddenly become a "Family" newspaper? If there is no freedom of speech at the Stranger, where do we go? The Seattle Times ?
51
"Freedom of speech" is overrated when it comes to random internet trolls spouting BS for little reason.
There are a billion places on the internet where you can go and yell at people for kicks. If some of those places don't let you yell as much as you'd like, life will still go on and the Republic will not collapse.
There are a billion places on the internet where you can go and yell at people for kicks. If some of those places don't let you yell as much as you'd like, life will still go on and the Republic will not collapse.
52
Oh that's just sickening. That's one of the worst things I can imagine happening to someone or someone's family, thoughts go out to his family and friends right now, I can only hope that they really do have Seattle--and indeed, all of King County (I'm in Bellevue)--along with them. Nobody deserves this.
But especially, nobody, but *nobody* deserves to have their senseless death desecrated on a public board. To all the little trolls out there crawling out from under a rock, from one troll to another, stooping that low is a despicable thing in its own right and you honestly make me sick. How you find it within yourself to be that low and vile is beyond me, and it's sick that I even have to mention this. I don't think freedom of speech means freedom of idiocy.
But especially, nobody, but *nobody* deserves to have their senseless death desecrated on a public board. To all the little trolls out there crawling out from under a rock, from one troll to another, stooping that low is a despicable thing in its own right and you honestly make me sick. How you find it within yourself to be that low and vile is beyond me, and it's sick that I even have to mention this. I don't think freedom of speech means freedom of idiocy.
53
Why do the cops spend SO much more energy and resources when an officer is killed as opposed to when my father was killed. Police officers are often at risk and choose to be at risk and we do appreciate that but the response to an attack on an officer is not proportional to the event when the response to the public's victimization is sub-par at best, or at least without results OFTEN. And they act like jerks, again OFTEN. Cops suck. But you shouldn't shoot them.
56
Looks like the oppressed masses have claimed one of their number for a change...
Sad news, but death by violence always is.
Sad news, but death by violence always is.
57
I've had the police on my case, misaimed and misinformed. I've been teargassed, hassled, shot with rubber, ticketed while walking the streets/ministering to the street kids/heading home from the grocery. I've been unlawfully arrested, held for arguable reasons, seen the racial profiling in action, etc etc, and even had one of the SPD put their lovely firearm into the base of my skull & threaten my life. (For those thinking I deserved it / was "asking for" any of this: no. Yeah, at 16 maybe I did, but I haven't broken or even bent one law since).
Am I bitter? Sorta. I don't like how they're told to shoot to kill for judicial expedience. The intimidation training? Lazy way of handling people. Some of them suck up to business as readily as politicians, and sidestep real law ('no sitting zones' come to mind, SPD: you kick people out citing that law, but that code has BOUNDARIES - get a map). Do I appreciate the risk, the hard work? Hells yes, I think cops (and teachers) should make double what they do, or make what politicians do. I generally don't stick up for the cops because a) I feel there's weak/too little accountability to public review, b) I wish they could get things (see Chief Stamper's 'Breaking Rank') in their own house cleaned up, and c) I'm jaded and pissy that groups like Guardian Angels and Q-Patrol were ever necessary.
That said,
I'm 100% behind my cops right now, and horrified by the shooters. You don't fuck with my SPD. They're 'my dog to kick', as much as the Seahawks are too, and you sure as hell put your foot in it with this one.
Random? Assassination? This was an execution. A murder, targetting SPD. You fucked up though, and Sweeney saw and then tagged your sad asses. Didn't bank on the witnesses, or the city up against you, or the 40G+ cash for whoever snitches on you?
Brenton was a regular at a place I work, not far from the shooting. This sucks. No matter how sad your day or life is, someone else is having the worst day of their life. I won't go into defending his family, because anyone decent recognizes they are deserved the utmost respect & privacy. Period.
Good Hunting, SPD.
More...
Am I bitter? Sorta. I don't like how they're told to shoot to kill for judicial expedience. The intimidation training? Lazy way of handling people. Some of them suck up to business as readily as politicians, and sidestep real law ('no sitting zones' come to mind, SPD: you kick people out citing that law, but that code has BOUNDARIES - get a map). Do I appreciate the risk, the hard work? Hells yes, I think cops (and teachers) should make double what they do, or make what politicians do. I generally don't stick up for the cops because a) I feel there's weak/too little accountability to public review, b) I wish they could get things (see Chief Stamper's 'Breaking Rank') in their own house cleaned up, and c) I'm jaded and pissy that groups like Guardian Angels and Q-Patrol were ever necessary.
That said,
I'm 100% behind my cops right now, and horrified by the shooters. You don't fuck with my SPD. They're 'my dog to kick', as much as the Seahawks are too, and you sure as hell put your foot in it with this one.
Random? Assassination? This was an execution. A murder, targetting SPD. You fucked up though, and Sweeney saw and then tagged your sad asses. Didn't bank on the witnesses, or the city up against you, or the 40G+ cash for whoever snitches on you?
Brenton was a regular at a place I work, not far from the shooting. This sucks. No matter how sad your day or life is, someone else is having the worst day of their life. I won't go into defending his family, because anyone decent recognizes they are deserved the utmost respect & privacy. Period.
Good Hunting, SPD.
58
On journalism / 1st amendment rights:
The Stranger can edit all they like, it's their paper. This one's a good call.
You want editorial control? Get the degree, write/edit well, & get hired; or start your own damn site/paper.
Need to bitch and moan, or cry racism! or FuckPigs! ? Or vent ? Or cheer for this criminal? Great, there's forums/porcelain bowls built for that: Craigslist RnR is likely the best one. Twitter. LJ. Have at it. Leaving your cleveland steamer here in the comments about THIS story, is as appropriate as literally leaving one in the bleachers during a Mariner's game. Stupid trolls in Depends™.
Between this article, seattlecrime.com and CDnews, I'm proud of the indie journalists, by far. The Times and PI? Weakness. And the TV 'news' vultures are going to get the public's backlash/wrath (unused halloween eggs come to mind) if they keep pestering Brenton's friends and family.
Good hunting, SPD.
The Stranger can edit all they like, it's their paper. This one's a good call.
You want editorial control? Get the degree, write/edit well, & get hired; or start your own damn site/paper.
Need to bitch and moan, or cry racism! or FuckPigs! ? Or vent ? Or cheer for this criminal? Great, there's forums/porcelain bowls built for that: Craigslist RnR is likely the best one. Twitter. LJ. Have at it. Leaving your cleveland steamer here in the comments about THIS story, is as appropriate as literally leaving one in the bleachers during a Mariner's game. Stupid trolls in Depends™.
Between this article, seattlecrime.com and CDnews, I'm proud of the indie journalists, by far. The Times and PI? Weakness. And the TV 'news' vultures are going to get the public's backlash/wrath (unused halloween eggs come to mind) if they keep pestering Brenton's friends and family.
Good hunting, SPD.
59
57 -
Because this is what anarchy would look like. If the masses think they can just get away with senseless murder of law enforcement, then one cornerstone of civilization is lost. If the police are spending a greater effort on solving this crime than others, then good on them.
Think of what's been going on in some parts of Mexico. It is out of control. Police are being assassinated at a horrifying rate. Would you feel safe there?
Loss of any life is a tragedy and I am very, very sorry you have lost your father. But without police none of us will be safe. None.
Because this is what anarchy would look like. If the masses think they can just get away with senseless murder of law enforcement, then one cornerstone of civilization is lost. If the police are spending a greater effort on solving this crime than others, then good on them.
Think of what's been going on in some parts of Mexico. It is out of control. Police are being assassinated at a horrifying rate. Would you feel safe there?
Loss of any life is a tragedy and I am very, very sorry you have lost your father. But without police none of us will be safe. None.
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