08/06/2026
The Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation (WSPMF) was established in 1982 to pay tribute to the memory of those officers who gave their lives while serving the citizens of the State of Washington.
The WSPMF is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Washington’s fallen officers and ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten. Through remembrance ceremonies, memorial support, and ongoing outreach, WSPMF honors both the officers and the families who continue to carry their legacy forward.
To honor our fallen officers, a summary of each officer’s service, along with a brief family update, is published on the anniversary of the officer’s death. This annual tribute serves as a meaningful reminder of their dedication, their sacrifice, and the enduring impact they have on the Washington State Patrol family and the communities they served.
Brent Hanger was born on January 28, 1968, to Ralph and Barbara Hanger in Sedro Woolley, Washington. He grew up in the Skagit Valley, graduating from Burlington-Edison High School before continuing his education by obtaining an Occupational associate’s degree in auto and heavy diesel repair from Universal Technical Institute in 1988.
Hanger’s career path changed, bringing him to the Washington State Patrol on July 9, 1998, where he joined the 82nd Trooper Basic Training Class. Trooper Hanger was commissioned on March 1, 1999, and was assigned back home in Burlington.
Trooper Hanger earned the Award of Merit on November 28, 2000, for risking his own life assisting an individual in crisis. He transferred to Marysville in May 2004, and became a Field Training Officer known to have high expectations, but not without also providing the proper support, encouragement, and wisdom to his trainees.
Trooper Hanger promoted to detective with the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force on August 1, 2007, assigned to Bellingham. He spent eight years working alongside the team displaying integrity, loyalty, dedication, and perseverance.
Detective Brent Hanger died on August 6, 2015, at the age of 47. He suffered a heart attack while following up on a tip regarding a ma*****na grow in Yakima County. At the time of his death, Detective Hanger had served almost 17 years with the Washington State Patrol.
Detective Hanger's wife, Lisa, lives in Mount Vernon and works at FedEx. Lisa loves spending time with their six children, Emily, Erin, Kailey, Erik, Kyle, and Kevin; and her dog, Lottie.
Emily graduated from Western Washington University (WWU) in 2020 and is a Trooper, assigned to Burlington. Emily got engaged this year to Andres, and they purchased a home in Sedro-Woolley. She has a chocolate lab, named Peach. Emily enjoys photography, scuba diving, and travel.
Erin graduated from WWU in 2020, with a major in history and a minor in Latin. She just completed her first year in veterinary school at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and loved it. Lisa and Emily were able to travel to Scotland with Erin before school started and go sightseeing. It was an amazing experience for them.
Kailey graduated from the University of Washington in 2022 with her biology major. She is currently working at an orthodontist’s office in Kirkland. She plans on going to dental school. She loves spending time with her friends, her boyfriend and her kitties.
Erik is close to graduating from WWU with a major in Environmental Science and an emphasis on Ecology. Erik works at Bellingham Veterinary while going to school and hopes to work with wildlife in the future. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and riding his dirt bike.
Kyle graduated from Skagit Valley College this year. He did an internship with Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland. Ultimately, he was hired permanently as their program director. For fun, Kyle likes to camp and hang out with his friends. He also likes PC gaming, anime and Goorin Bros. Trucker hats.
Kevin completed his first year of school in the engineering program at Whatcom Community College. In his free time, he likes to work on his vintage VW van and hang out with is sister, Kailey.
Brent Hanger's mother, Barbara, passed away in February 2020. Brent’s siblings, Julie and Mark, live in Mt. Vernon. His sister Marcia lives in Smokey Point. Brent’s stepmom, Linda and stepsister, Jessica, live in Burlington.
A memorial unveiling and dedication was held at the Burlington WSP office on August 22 last year. This dedication honored the 10th anniversary of Detective Hanger’s line of duty death.
Detective Brent Hanger, and the other thirty-three WSP fallen officers, will be honored at the 45th annual WSP Memorial Foundation dinner and auction on April 17, 2027, at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA. This meaningful evening brings together law enforcement, families, friends, and community members to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service to the citizens of Washington State. Through remembrance, reflection, and fellowship, their sacrifice continues to be recognized and never forgotten. We hope you will join us.
Please take a moment to remember Detective Brent Hanger and his family.
