James C. Brizendine

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 21, 1955

Age 33

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 59

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

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-559610CC
Stewardship: 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

Department Seattle Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Seattle, King County, WA

Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 21, 1955

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Military Service

James C. Brizendine served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer James C. Brizendine is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Seattle Police Department, 44 of 60 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.

Seattle Police Department

of 60 officers

73.3% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 340 officers

55% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious