Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Patrick Maher was shot and killed after breaking up a fight between two brothers and one of the brother's ex-girlfriends at South 272nd Street and Pacific Highway South in Kent.
Officer Maher was dispatched at approximately 10:20 am to a convenience store on an unrelated assignment when he saw a fight in a parking lot between three people. After the officer broke up the fight, one of the male participants fled on foot across a street, leaving the jurisdiction of the city of Federal Way. He fled into the neighboring city of Kent, where he attempted to escape from Officer Maher by climbing a fence.
Officer Maher ran after this male and caught up with him, and was able to pull him down from the fence. In the ensuing struggle, the male gained control of Officer Maher's firearm. The male then pointed the gun at his brother and ex-girlfriend. In an attempt to disarm the suspect, Officer Maher lunged at the male but was shot in the abdomen just below the edge of his bullet-resistant vest.
After Officer Maher was shot, the brother jumped on the male's back and held him until other officers arrived. The male was arrested by members of the Kent Police Department and charged with murder. He pled guilty on October 21, 2005, to first-degree murder, and on December 9, 2005, he was sentenced to 30 years.
Officer Maher was transported to Harbor View Medical Center where he later died from his wound.
Officer Maher was a United States Coast Guard veteran who had served with the Federal Way Police Department for seven months and had previously served in Hawaii for seven years with the Honolulu Police Department. He is survived by his wife and three children. His oldest son was killed in a car accident on January 4, 2004, only 5 months after Officer Maher was murdered.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-789E7924- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Coast Guard. One record, 2 gates. Patrick is one person.
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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.
Officer Maher gave the Federal Way Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Federal Way community. Thank you 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
Patrick Martin Maher served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.
Officer Patrick Martin Maher 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 Federal Way Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Patrick Martin Maher's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick Martin Maher Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick Martin Maher is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick Martin Maher was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Patrick Martin Maher served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.
Visit Patrick Martin Maher’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Federal Way Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
