Incident
Detective Brent Hanger suffered a fatal heart attack while hiking into a remote area of Chinook Pass, near Yakima, to investigate reports of a marijuana growing operation.
He began to suffer chest pains and shortness of breath. Other detectives who were with him immediately called for assistance and started CPR after he collapsed, but were unable to revive him.
Detective Hanger had served with the Washington State Patrol for 17 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Hanger gave the Washington State Patrol 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Hanger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Washington State Patrol has lost 34 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
Brent is one of 18 officers lost to cardiac events in WA, 5.3% of the 340 remembered there.
Brent is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Brent is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2015, 1 officer in WA was lost to cardiac events, the 3rd heaviest of 16 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 2.
In 2015, 21 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 7th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 2015, 21 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 7th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Brent was 47. Of the 15 lost to cardiac events in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 56.5; the middle age was 48. Brent had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 17.5 years.
Brent was 47. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Brent had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Brent was 47. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Brent had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
August holds 11.1% of these deaths in WA; January holds the most, 22.2%. Thursdays: 11.1%.
August holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Thursdays: 14.5%.
August holds 8% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14.5%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 2.9% of all 34 deaths at Washington State Patrol, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 5.3% of all 340 deaths in WA, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Washington State Patrol has 34 officers remembered here, Brent among them.
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Vernon G. Fortin
Sep 30, 1923
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Irving M. Thorsvig
Oct 26, 1926
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Conard C. Tolson
Mar 24, 1929
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Henry Douglas Cossmann
Oct 9, 1929
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William H. Pautzke
May 8, 1930
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Loren G. Ray
Dec 16, 1934
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Allen E. Ludden
Mar 15, 1938
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John H. Gulden
Dec 23, 1942
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Thomas J. Hanlin
May 26, 1945
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Paul H. Johnson
Dec 12, 1949
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Ivan Belka
Aug 18, 1951
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Donald R. Campbell
Dec 21, 1951
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John F. Wright
Jun 28, 1953
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Eugene A. Bolstad
Sep 3, 1957
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Ernest E. Eichhorn
Sep 16, 1958
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Wesley H. Whittenberg
Dec 29, 1960
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Clarence C. Johnson
Sep 8, 1968
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Charles Frank Noble
Feb 5, 1972
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Joseph B. Modlin
Aug 15, 1974
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Thomas L. Hendrickson
Nov 17, 1974
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Glenda Darlene Thomas
May 24, 1985
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James S. Gain
Mar 2, 1987
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Clifford R. Hansell
Jul 22, 1987
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Raymond L. Hawn
Jan 17, 1990
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Steven Lee Frink
Mar 22, 1993
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James E. Saunders
Oct 7, 1999
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Tony Vian Radulescu
Feb 23, 2012
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Sean Michael O'Connell, Jr.
May 31, 2013
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Brent L. Hanger
Aug 6, 2015
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Suzanne Padgett
Sep 4, 2018
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Justin Robert Schaffer
Mar 24, 2020
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Eric Thomas Gunderson
Sep 26, 2021
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Christopher M. Gadd
Mar 2, 2024
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Tara-Marysa Guting
Dec 19, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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