Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Timothy Brenton was shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car.
He was sitting in the passenger seat of a patrol car with a trainee discussing a just-completed traffic stop near the corner of 29th Avenue and East Yesler Way when a vehicle pulled alongside the patrol car and an occupant opened fire. Officer Brenton was killed instantly. His trainee officer was grazed in the back by one shot. She was able to exit the patrol car, return fire several times at the fleeing vehicle, and call for additional units.
At the conclusion of Officer Brenton's public memorial service, detectives were following up on a tip, specifically about a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle seen at the incident, at an apartment in the city of Tukwila. The detectives confronted a person of interest as he stepped outside his apartment and approached the vehicle. The man pulled a gun and was shot and wounded before being taken into custody.
The 41-year-old suspect was also charged with the firebombing of Seattle police vehicles at a city maintenance facility nine days earlier. On July 23rd, 2015, he was convicted of murder, attempted murder, and arson. He was sentenced to life and died while in jail on January 18th, 2017.
Officer Brenton was a U.S. Army veteran of the Gulf War. He had served with the Seattle Police Department for nine years and had previously served with the La Conner Police Department. Survivors include his wife, son, daughter, mother, father, stepmother, brother, and sister. His father and uncle are retired Seattle police officers.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife, son, daughter, mother, father, stepmother, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-334A22E0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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 Brenton gave the Seattle Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle 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
Timothy Q. Brenton served in the Army (1988â1992) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Timothy Q. Brenton is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Timothy Q. Brenton's cause is highlighted.
How Timothy Q. Brenton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Timothy Q. Brenton is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Timothy Q. Brenton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
59 officers from Seattle Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
