Published: Friday, September 15, 2006
Friends stand by grieving officers
Police across the county extend their sympathies and rally to Brier's aid.
BRIER - Mountlake Terrace police raced to the side of a fellow officer when he called for help Tuesday.
They are still there.
Brier police officer Edwanton "Eddie" Thomas, 28, died after a struggle with the city's former mayor, Gary Starks.
Since his death, police officers from around the state have flooded the small department with flowers, words of condolences and offers to help - including patrolling the streets where Thomas had worked.
The officers in nearby cities, who work closest with Brier's 10-member department, have camped out at the police station.
"Our neighboring communities have come together in ways I never would have imagined," Brier Mayor Bob Colinas said Thursday. "They are the ones that are helping us to get through this."
Brier, home to about 6,500 people, has a police department that works closely with neighboring police agencies, especially those in Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and Edmonds.
Law enforcement officers share a tight bond, and the officers in south Snohomish County are particularly close, Edmonds police Sgt. Don Anderson said.
"That's the great thing about working here. You're never alone. You know backup is never more than two minutes away," Anderson said.
Brier has had plentyof backup since Thomas' death. Officers from Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and Edmonds have volunteered to answer emergency calls in the city, giving Brier officers time to grieve the loss of their co-worker and friend.
"It wasn't even something that was questioned," Mountlake Terrace police Sgt. Mark Connor said. "They would do it for us."
The Brier officers will return to the streets Saturday morning, Brier Police Chief Don Lane said Thursday. Other police departments will fill in again on Wednesday during the memorial service for Thomas.
"I want to thank all of the citizens and fellow (police) agencies that stepped in to help us," Lane said. "It's a family."
Detectives on Thursday continued to investigate what happened between Thomas and Starks. Thomas went to the home to help the former mayor, a diabetic whose wife called 911 to report that he needed medical treatment. Starks had a history of being aggressive toward officers and aid workers, according to court records. Starks' lawyer and his pastor on Wednesday both attributed the struggle with Thomas to Starks' severely low blood-sugar level.
Thomas called for help shortly after arriving. When other officers arrived, Thomas and Starks were lying atop a bed. Starks was handcuffed. Thomas was not breathing.
Starks, 55, was arrested for investigation of third-degree assault. A judge later ordered him released without imposing bail. No charges have been filed.
It may be up to a month before the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office determines how Thomas died.
Detectives at some point are likely to refer the information they gather to Snohomish County prosecutors, who will determine whether the death was connected to a criminal act, said Joan Cavagnaro, the county's chief criminal deputy prosecutor.
That sort of review is common in any case when a police officer is involved and a death occurs.
"Given that an officer died, I would think they would refer something to review just to make sure there's no crime there," Cavagnaro said.
Officers don't face a deadline in the investigation because Starks, the only other person believed present when Thomas stopped breathing, has been released from jail, Cavagnaro said.
Meanwhile, police officers from around the county on Thursday helped plan the memorial service for Thomas.
They spent the day in Brier making arrangements and helping Thomas' family, said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1.
"I think when an officer falls in the line of duty, it reminds everybody about the potential dangers of the profession," said Paul Watkins, a deputy chief at the Lynnwood Police Department. "During these times, I think the brotherhood of law enforcement shines."
Watkins commended local fire departments and volunteers for their assistance. They are keeping a 24-hour vigil outside the police station, where a makeshift memorial has grown.
Police officers from as far away as Tacoma dropped off flowers and shared handshakes with local police Thursday.
"Every one of us puts our lives on the line every day," Connor said. "We all know it could have been us. We're going to pull together and support each other to get through this."
Reporter Jim Haley contributed to this report.
They are still there.
Brier police officer Edwanton "Eddie" Thomas, 28, died after a struggle with the city's former mayor, Gary Starks.
Since his death, police officers from around the state have flooded the small department with flowers, words of condolences and offers to help - including patrolling the streets where Thomas had worked.
The officers in nearby cities, who work closest with Brier's 10-member department, have camped out at the police station.
"Our neighboring communities have come together in ways I never would have imagined," Brier Mayor Bob Colinas said Thursday. "They are the ones that are helping us to get through this."
Brier, home to about 6,500 people, has a police department that works closely with neighboring police agencies, especially those in Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and Edmonds.
Law enforcement officers share a tight bond, and the officers in south Snohomish County are particularly close, Edmonds police Sgt. Don Anderson said.
"That's the great thing about working here. You're never alone. You know backup is never more than two minutes away," Anderson said.
Brier has had plentyof backup since Thomas' death. Officers from Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and Edmonds have volunteered to answer emergency calls in the city, giving Brier officers time to grieve the loss of their co-worker and friend.
"It wasn't even something that was questioned," Mountlake Terrace police Sgt. Mark Connor said. "They would do it for us."
The Brier officers will return to the streets Saturday morning, Brier Police Chief Don Lane said Thursday. Other police departments will fill in again on Wednesday during the memorial service for Thomas.
"I want to thank all of the citizens and fellow (police) agencies that stepped in to help us," Lane said. "It's a family."
Detectives on Thursday continued to investigate what happened between Thomas and Starks. Thomas went to the home to help the former mayor, a diabetic whose wife called 911 to report that he needed medical treatment. Starks had a history of being aggressive toward officers and aid workers, according to court records. Starks' lawyer and his pastor on Wednesday both attributed the struggle with Thomas to Starks' severely low blood-sugar level.
Thomas called for help shortly after arriving. When other officers arrived, Thomas and Starks were lying atop a bed. Starks was handcuffed. Thomas was not breathing.
Starks, 55, was arrested for investigation of third-degree assault. A judge later ordered him released without imposing bail. No charges have been filed.
It may be up to a month before the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office determines how Thomas died.
Detectives at some point are likely to refer the information they gather to Snohomish County prosecutors, who will determine whether the death was connected to a criminal act, said Joan Cavagnaro, the county's chief criminal deputy prosecutor.
That sort of review is common in any case when a police officer is involved and a death occurs.
"Given that an officer died, I would think they would refer something to review just to make sure there's no crime there," Cavagnaro said.
Officers don't face a deadline in the investigation because Starks, the only other person believed present when Thomas stopped breathing, has been released from jail, Cavagnaro said.
Meanwhile, police officers from around the county on Thursday helped plan the memorial service for Thomas.
They spent the day in Brier making arrangements and helping Thomas' family, said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1.
"I think when an officer falls in the line of duty, it reminds everybody about the potential dangers of the profession," said Paul Watkins, a deputy chief at the Lynnwood Police Department. "During these times, I think the brotherhood of law enforcement shines."
Watkins commended local fire departments and volunteers for their assistance. They are keeping a 24-hour vigil outside the police station, where a makeshift memorial has grown.
Police officers from as far away as Tacoma dropped off flowers and shared handshakes with local police Thursday.
"Every one of us puts our lives on the line every day," Connor said. "We all know it could have been us. We're going to pull together and support each other to get through this."
Reporter Jim Haley contributed to this report.
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