UPDATE 3/23/2010: FWPD has identified the deceased officer as Brian M. Walsh, a 34 year old and 4 ½ year veteran of the Federal Way Police Department. He was hired as an experienced police officer with over 4 years of police officer experience prior to coming to Federal Way. He received an honorable discharge from the Air National Guard in 2005. He is survived by his wife, 2 children, and his extended family. Their third child is due in May.

Officer Walsh assisted in maintaining a perimeter around an officer involved shooting crime scene. At approximately 0645 hours 3/21/10, he was found collapsed in his patrol vehicle.

The cause of death has been ruled a heart attack by the King County Medical Examiner.

Federal Way Police Department is continuing steps to address the needs of our deceased officer’s family, in addition to offering support and assistance to the members of the Federal Way Police Department.

A Memorial Fund has been established by the Federal Way Police Officer’s Guild. Donations can be made to Officer Walsh’s Memorial Fund at any Key Bank Branch location.

On March 21, 2010 at approximately 0115 hours, Federal Way Police Officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle located in the 33300 Block of 26th Avenue SW in Federal Way. The vehicle was described as a dark colored Lincoln SUV with two persons sleeping in the back. The vehicle was backed up against an unoccupied residence.

Federal Way police officers responded to the area of the vehicle. Once officers were on-scene, it was determined the vehicle was reported as stolen by the King County Sheriff’s Office. As the officers approached, applied vehicle stopping devices, and initiated verbal commands, the driver of the vehicle started the engine and began to flee against the verbal commands of officers. As the vehicle left the area, it struck/rammed three Federal Way marked patrol vehicles.

Two Federal Way police officers fired their weapons at the driver and the vehicle.

The vehicle was subsequently found nearby. The driver was found hiding in a carport area of a residence and was taken into custody without incident by Federal Way police officers.

The suspect driver is a 17-year-old Hispanic male with an extensive criminal history and is a convicted felon. The suspect sustained a non-life threatening bullet wound to his arm and was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. There is currently one suspect occupant from the stolen vehicle at large.

The two Federal Way Police Officers who discharged their weapons were not injured. They have been placed on paid administrative leave (standard procedure) pending the outcome of an investigation.

The officers involved are veteran police officers:

* Officer #1 was hired as an experienced police officer in 1999 and has over 12 years of municipal law enforcement experience.
* Officer #2 was hired as an entry level police officer in 2007 and has over 2 ½ years of law enforcement experience. He is a US Army veteran with 7 years of service.

The Federal Way Police Department made the request of the Renton Police Department to conduct the investigation regarding this officer involved shooting incident (standard procedure for South King County municipal agencies).

While this Officer Involved Shooting incident was being investigated, Federal Way Police officers maintained a perimeter around the crime scene. At approximately 0645 hours, one of the perimeter officers was found collapsed in his patrol vehicle.

Federal Way Police officers initiated CPR which continued with the arrival of the King County Medic One unit. Officers and medics were unable to revive the officer and he was pronounced dead at approximately 0721 hours this morning. The cause of death is unknown at this time. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, March 22, 2010.

Federal Way Police is securing evidence and leading this death investigation at this time. Preliminarily observation of the scene shows no sign of foul play; however, a comprehensive investigation is underway pending the outcome of the scheduled autopsy.

The deceased officer was 34 years of age and a 4 ½ year veteran of the Federal Way Police Department. He was hired as an experienced police officer with over 4 years of police officer experience prior to coming to Federal Way.

He was a member of the Air National Guard beginning in 1994. He is survived by his wife, 2 children, and his extended family. Their third child is due in May.

The Federal Way Police Department wishes to thank the Renton Police Department for their assistance with the ongoing criminal investigation involving the officer involved shooting.

Federal Way Police are taking steps to address the needs of our deceased officer’s family in this time of loss as well as offering support and assistance to the members of the Federal Way Police Department.