Seattle Police Foundation Awards Banquet

I attended the annual Seattle Police Foundation benefit last night.  It was a touching and rewarding experience seeing the members of the Seattle Police Dept. honored for their excellence and bravery over the past year.  I have learned in talking with many of them, that they are far more humbled than proud to receive these awards.  But we are proud of them.

The honors were bestowed at a dinner held in downtown Seattle.  Among those honored were Officer Britt Sweeney for her actions on the night of Oct. 31, 2009 when her partner Officer Tim Brenton was murdered; Officer Benjamin Kelly for his role in confronting Maurice Clemmons, the killer of the Lakewood officers.  Also honored were Sgt. Gary Nelson, Sgt. Rober Vallor and Detective Rolf Norton for their identifying and apprehending Christopher Monfort, the suspect in Officer Brenton’s murder.

It was bittersweet since Nov. 6 was the year anniversary of Officer Brenton’s Memorial Service.  And, ironically, the day accused killer Christopher Monfort was taken into custody by the three officers honored.