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Honoring our Fallen | Supporting their Survivors
One of over 50 chapters of our national parent
(1)

As survivors of line-of-duty death, we volunteer our time and talents to help those who 'join' us after the loss of their law enforcement officer, to navigate their new normal. Funding from outside sources enables Washington State Concerns of Police Survivors to offer survivors professional help through meetings, training for those survivors who are ready to actively support new survivors, family workshops, and training to law enforcement departments on how to handle a line-of-duty death. We use donations to help survivors attend National Police Week and camps that are specific to their survivor type (parents, siblings, and so on). We also host local survivor events, such as our annual chapter picnic. Unfortunately, many departments have no protocol on what to do when the tragedy of an officer’s death strikes. In these instances, it is harder for the agency to help the surviving families and affected co-workers get through what could be the most difficult crisis of their lives.

10/16/2026

Washington State EOW 10/16

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/16/1881: Officer David Sires, Seattle Police Department Seattle Police Officers Guild Seattle Police Foundation
10/16/1995: Deputy John Bananola, Pierce County Sheriff's Office (Tacoma)

*During the hours of darkness on October 12, 1881, Officer David Sires was in a saloon near 2nd Ave. and Washington Street. It is unknown if Officer Sires was on-duty or off-duty, but he was not in uniform. Shots were fired outside the saloon, and Officer Sires went to investigate. Several people outside the saloon pointed to a man, Benjamin Payne, as the person who had fired the shots. Officer Sires went after Payne, who fired one shot. The bullet struck Sires in the throat, and he fell to the street. Payne ran away. Officer Sires was taken to the original Occidental Hotel located at what is now 1st Ave. and Yesler. He drifted in and out of consciousness but did say that he felt partly responsible because he had not identified himself to Payne as a police officer. David Sires died on October 16, 1881.

*Deputy Bananola was shot and killed on October 16, 1995, during a drug raid on a house in Tacoma. He was the first of a six-man team to enter the house. He was confronted by the suspect and identified himself as an officer. The suspect fired at least ten shots with a nine-millimeter handgun, striking Deputy Bananola nine times. Bananola was able to return fire and struck the suspect in the groin. The suspect was found guilty of drug charges but there was a hung jury on the first-degree murder charges. A second trial found the suspect guilty of second-degree murder and he was sentenced to a total of 40 years. During an appeal of the conviction, he was found guilty and given an even longer sentence.

For more on Officer Sires: https://seattlepoliceofficers.com/fallen-officers/

For more on Deputy Bananola: https://blog.piercecountywa.gov/pcsdblotter/2025/10/16/remembering-deputy-john-bananola/

10/14/2026

Washington State EOW 10/14

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/14/1932: Agent Ernest Vlasich, ATF (Vancouver)

Prohibition Agents Ernest Vlasich and Ballard Turner went to the home of Jesse Cousins, located about 25 miles NE of Vancouver. The agents successfully purchased 2 gallons of moonshine from Cousins and then advised him that he was under arrest. Without warning, Cousins drew a .380 caliber pistol and fired at both agents.

Agent Turner was struck twice in the heart and died instantly, on September 29, 1932. Agent Vlasich was shot three times and seriously wounded. Vlasich and Turner were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Vancouver. Vlasich underwent an operation to remove two bullets and the doctors believed that his prognosis was good. However, he died several weeks later, October 14, 1932.

A posse of Prohibition Agents, along with State and sheriff deputies was quickly formed to search for Cousins, but he was an expert woodsman and remained hidden and out of sight. Two months later, Prohibition Agents along with Sheriff R. E. McCrite, found Cousins hiding in the woods of Clark County and arrested him. At trial, Cousins was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to life imprisonment at the State Penitentiary.

Agent Vlasich was shot and killed in the same incident as Agent Ballard Turner, honored on 09/29; for more: https://www.atf.gov/our-history/fallen-agents/ernest-b-vlasich

10/12/2026

Washington State EOW 10/12

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/12/2021: Officer Bradley Kam, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Tacoma)

Deportation Officer Bradley Kam died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while working on an assignment near Tacoma.

Kam had served with the United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations for four years and was assigned to the Seattle ERO Office. He had previously served with the United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection- United States Border Patrol at the Indio Station of the El Centro Sector for nine years.

For more on Officer Kam: https://www.wsnia.org/about/memorial #:~:text=Deportation%20Officer%20Bradley%20Kam%20died%20from%20complications%20as%20the%20result

10/10/2026

𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑:

𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐂.𝐎.𝐏.𝐒. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝟏𝟏:𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐦 – 𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦

Ken Moran Room
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
Parkland-Spanaway Sheriff’s Precinct
495 Shandon Wright Way S
Tacoma, WA 98444

*Share memories from survivor weekends, TLEs and conferences.
*Relax and enjoy survivor company before the busy holiday season.
*Enjoy a delicious lunch provided by Catering by Edwin.
*Help strategize, budget and plan for 2027 NPW, survivor weekends and conferences.
*Guest speaker is Chaplain Linda Haptonstall, sharing her journey with the Archdiocese of Seattle, the DOC, and C.O.P.S.

Our thanks to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for use of the building and the Ken Moran room.

*RSVP to [email protected]

10/09/2026

Washington State EOW 10/09

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/09/1888: Marshal Edward Whittier, Cheney PD
10/09/1929: Trooper H. Douglas Cossmann, Washington State Patrol Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation (Tacoma)

*Marshal Whittier was taking a prisoner from Cheney to Spokane Falls to the county jail when he turned his buggy out of the roadway to avoid an oncoming loaded wagon to pass. In doing so, the buggy wheel hit some loose rocks caused by previous blasting in the area to construct the railroad. The horses, unable to secure footing, began to run away. They ran the tongue of the buggy into the trestle with such force that it threw Marshal Whittier to the dashboard of the buggy. This caused the buggy to overturn throwing both Marshal Whittier and the prisoner to the ground. Whittier hit with such force that it crushed his skull. The prisoner took money from the Marshal and went into town to sound the alarm. He neglected, however, to tell them he had been in custody. Whittier had served as the Sheriff of Spokane County before becoming the Cheney Marshal.

*Patrolman Henry D. Cossmann was involved in a collision with an automobile while riding his motorcycle on September 23, 1929, at the intersection of 46th Street and Park Avenue in Tacoma. Newspaper reports stated he’d been “run down” and witnesses reported that he was broadsided by an oncoming car while making a turn. He was transported to a Tacoma hospital with serious head injuries and never regained consciousness. He succumbed to his injuries two weeks later, October 9, 1929.

For more on Marshal Whittier: https://www.spokanecounty.org/1388/Roll-Call-of-Honor

For more on Trooper Cossman: https://wspinsideout.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/centennial-rememberance-patrolman-henry-douglas-cossman/

10/07/2026

Washington State EOW 10/07

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/07/1917: Chief John Wannenwetsch, Colville PD
10/07/1925: Policeman Robert Huffman, Colfax PD
10/07/1999: Trooper James Saunders, Washington State Patrol Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation (Pasco)

*Chief Wannenwetsch was shot and killed after interrupting two burglars attempting to break into a safe in a store. When he went to investigate a noise the suspects opened fire, striking him several times. He was able to return fire but did not strike the suspects, who fled to Spokane.

*Policeman Huffman suffered a fatal heart attack after arresting a drunk man. After the two returned to the jail Policeman Huffman collapsed as he unlocked the jail. The prisoner fled the scene but was later re-arrested.

*Trooper Saunders was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in Pasco. He had radioed dispatchers with a description of the vehicle (a green 1992 Mazda pickup) and the license plate. Within one minute of his initial call, a citizen used Trooper Saunders' radio to notify dispatchers that he had been shot. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

For more on Chief Wannenwetsch, PAGE 10 from https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085318/1917-10-13/ed-1/seq-10/ =10%2F13%2F1917&index=9&date2=10%2F14%2F1917

For more on Policeman Huffman: https://www.odmp.org/officer/6810-night-policeman-lee-huffman

For more on Trooper Saunders: https://www.wsp.wa.gov/2020/10/05/centennial-remembrance-1999-line-of-duty-death-trooper-james-saunders/

10/06/2026

Washington State EOW 10/06

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/06/1978: Deputy Kenneth Moran, Pierce County Sheriff's Office
10/06/2025: Officer Henry Franklin, Sikeston (MO) Dept. of Public Safety

*Deputy Ken Moran was shot and killed while attempting to protect a woman during a shootout with bank robbery suspects. The woman had come out of her house during the shootout to see what was going on. As she advanced towards Moran, he attempted to warn her to go back into her home, but she did not understand what he was saying. As she continued to walk towards Moran, he left his cover to try to protect the woman. As he stood up, he was struck by gunfire and killed instantly.

*Officer Franklin, with survivors in Washington State, was a member of the Sikeston DPS Tactical Team who responded to a mutual aid call in Mississippi County, linked to a homicide investigation from earlier that day. When the SWAT team arrived at the home of the suspect and attempted to make contact, the man fired at the officers from inside the house, killing Officer Franklin. The suspect remained barricaded in the home for five hours and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

For more on Deputy Moran: https://www.odmp.org/officer/9591-deputy-sheriff-kenneth-j-moran

For more on Officer Sikeston, with survivors in Washington State: https://www.odmp.org/officer/27541-police-officer-henry-franklin

10/04/2026

Washington State EOW 10/04

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/04/1956: Marshal Albert Davis, Lind PD (now Adams County SO)

Marshal A.B. Davis left his home at Lind, Washington, shortly after noon on October 4, 1956. That was the last time he was seen alive. On the morning of October 5, 1956, searchers found Mr. Davis' body approximately 162 feet from the roadway. There was a bullet wound in the head, and the body was lying face down with the arms crossed behind the back. The belt from his trousers had been removed and was lying beside the body. His pockets had been rifled, the contents of his billfold were scattered, and the wristwatch which he had been wearing was missing.

For more on Marshal Davis: https://law.justia.com/cases/washington/supreme-court/1958/34356-1.html

10/03/2026

Washington State EOW 10/03

Please join us to honor our fallen.

10/03/2021: Patrolman Raymond Gutierrez, USDOE (Hanford)

Patrolman Gutierrez died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He was a veteran of the US Army and Army Reserves and served with the United States Department of Energy - Hanford Patrol for 15 years.

For more on Patrolman Gutierrez: https://www.odmp.org/officer/26364-patrolman-raymond-john-gutierrez

10/01/2026

Thank you Washington State Combined Fund Drive for inviting us to host a table at your kickoff leadership breakfast!

We were able to talk about our mission to support survivors of law enforcement line of duty death, and to learn more about the CFD.

As an added surprise, a representative from the Seattle Seahawks brought his Super Bowl LX ring for us to try on!

Address

PO Box 111772
Tacoma, WA
98411

Telephone

+12086142677

Website

https://WashingtonStateCOPS.org/

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