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Incident
Police Officer James Brizendine was shot and killed by a civilian who mistook the officer for a prowler at 4233 4th Avenue NE. He and his partner responded to the report of a prowler but didn't find the subject when they searched the yard at the call location. Officer Brizendine began searching the adjoining yard and walked toward the house, shining his flashlight. The homeowner, alerted by his neighbor that there was a prowler in the area and blinded by Officer Brizendine's flashlight, thought Officer Brizendine was the prowler and fired a single shotgun blast, killing him. Officer Brizendine was a United States Navy World War II veteran and had served with the Seattle Police Department for 18 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Brizendine gave the Seattle Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James C. Brizendine served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Seattle Police Department has lost 60 officers; 44 of them killed feloniously.
James is one of 187 officers killed feloniously in WA, 55% of the 340 remembered there.
James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
James is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1955, 1 officer at Seattle Police Department was killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 32 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 4.
In 1955, 2 officers in WA were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 96 years on record. The heaviest was 1935, with 8.
In 1955, 53 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 135th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1955, 53 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 139th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
James was 33. Of the 32 killed feloniously at Seattle Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 43.3; the middle age was 38.5. James had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
James was 33. Of the 159 killed feloniously in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 46; the middle age was 41. James had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
James was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 33. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. James had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 15.9% of these deaths at Seattle Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 18.2%.
July holds 10.7% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 11.8%. Thursdays: 14.4%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 73.3% of all 60 deaths at Seattle Police Department, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 55% of all 340 deaths in WA, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Seattle Police Department has 60 officers remembered here, James among them.
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David M. Sires
Oct 16, 1881
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James L. Wells Nov 28, 1897
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Thomas L. Roberts
Apr 10, 1898
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Enoch E. Breece
Jul 3, 1902
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Albert C. Schaneman
Sep 14, 1903
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Matthias H. Rude
Sep 24, 1910
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Judson P. Davis
Feb 23, 1911
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William Henry Cunliffe
Jun 17, 1911
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Henry Lee Harris
Jul 4, 1911
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Arthur K. Ruckart
Dec 27, 1914
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Lawrence E. Kost
Dec 12, 1915
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John F. Weedin
Jul 24, 1916
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Robert R. Wiley Jul 30, 1916
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Edwin Wilson
Sep 24, 1919
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Volney L. Stevens
Jan 14, 1921
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James J. O'Brien
Jan 21, 1921
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William T. Angle
Jan 22, 1921
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Neil McMillan
Jan 24, 1921
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Charles O. Legate
Mar 17, 1922
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Arthur B. Luntsford
Jan 21, 1923
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Amos J. Comer
Jul 5, 1924
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Robert L. Litsey
Sep 25, 1924
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Fred Ivey
May 10, 1928
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Lyle Florian Tracy
Sep 7, 1928
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Emery Ray Sherard
Sep 15, 1928
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Gene W. Perry
Sep 21, 1930
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Walter G. Cottle
Sep 29, 1930
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Harry E. S. Williams
Aug 2, 1931
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Ralph H. Ahner
Sep 13, 1932
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Ellsworth W. Cordes
Dec 31, 1932
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John S. Donlan
May 20, 1934
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Olof Frank Wilson
Mar 31, 1935
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Trent A. Sickles
Nov 26, 1935
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Theodore E. Stevens
Nov 27, 1935
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Charles Creighton Clarke
Jan 22, 1936
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Con B. Anderson
Sep 27, 1936
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Frederick H. Hull
Nov 15, 1945
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William T. Rumble
Oct 29, 1947
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Harry W. Vosper
Jul 21, 1949
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John T. Clancy, Jr.
Dec 28, 1949
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Frank W. Hardy
Mar 12, 1954
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James C. Brizendine
Jul 21, 1955
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David P. Richards
Sep 1, 1967
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John E. Bartlett
Mar 9, 1968
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Robert Rowland Allshaw
Nov 11, 1968
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Robert D. Ward
May 15, 1969
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Fred Douglas Carr
Feb 25, 1973
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James Melvin Forbes
Jun 21, 1974
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James Howard St. DeLore
Jun 21, 1974
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Dorian Lee Halvorson
Sep 24, 1976
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Jerry Lee Wyant
Oct 26, 1976
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Nicholas Norman Davis
Dec 18, 1984
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Dale Eugene Eggers
Apr 23, 1985
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Antonio Martinez Terry
Jun 4, 1994
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Kenneth Leslie Davis
May 11, 1995
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Gary R. Lindell
Mar 13, 2002
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Jackson Vernon Lone
Mar 16, 2005
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Joselito Alvarez Barber
Aug 13, 2006
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Timothy Quinn Brenton
Oct 31, 2009
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Alexandra Brenneman Harris
Jun 13, 2021
Where
Military Service
James C. Brizendine served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit James C. Brizendine’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
59 officers from Seattle Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
