"They had no idea. She attended the University of Washington, where she studied criminal justice, her friends said. It never took place, but Brame tried to engineer it, gaslighting and lying to both women. After the shootings, my TNT colleagues wrote scores of stories, exposing a police department that seemed to wink at domestic violence by employees, and city leaders who found reasons not to intervene before disaster struck. Tacoma police chief shoots wife, kills himself "I'm not saying he's not responsible. "The probability is strong that the chief shot his wife and then himself," Troyer said. There just were none, Woodard says. The chief and his wife arrived in the parking lot in separate cars, with the couple's children riding with their mother. His wife had climbed out of the car before collapsing on the pavement. ``This is somebody everybody knew and respected., ``He was exactly what you want, Troyer added, ``rose up through the ranks, worked very hard and made chief.. David Brame was a second-generation cop who has been described as a model police chief. For the next two months, Brame was an untouchable shipwreck. On April 26, 2003, Brame fatally shot his wife, Crystal, then himself. Brame rose through the ranks to become police chief in Tacoma, a city of 194,000, in January 2002. Brame was pronounced dead at 5:52 p.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Troyer said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. It led state Attorney General Chris Gregoire to describe the department under Brame as culturally corrupt.. Our newsroom staff fanned out across Tacoma and Gig Harbor, reporting the biggest story most of us had ever covered. She is the first woman to head the police force in Tacoma, a city of 194,000. I had a pen and a notebook, not a smartphone. David Brame, 44, died at a hospital a short time. Tacoma Police Department on Twitter Crystal Brame accused her husband of pointing his gun at her, trying to choke her and saying he "could snap my neck if he wanted to.". ''He rose through the ranks, always finishing at the top,'' Mr. Baarsma said. Police Say Tacoma Chief Shoots Wife, Self - myplainview.com He was among officials who announced that a witness came forward with evidence that could tie two shootings in Tacoma to sniper suspects John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo. Their children, ages 8 and 5, were sitting in a nearby car. Police Chief Injures Wife, Kills Self - mrt.com The shooting took place around 3:10 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping center in this town northwest of Tacoma, Troyer said. "And that's why this is so shocking.". Passive-aggressive charm was his specialty. But youll have to wait until I get home, because I have to give it to you in person.. Tacoma Police Chief Shoots Wife, Self - Huron Daily Tribune Leaders of the citys Human Resources Department met with city attorneys and discussed Brames situation. Heres how long you get to enjoy before gray spell. We didnt use the word then, but records revealed that Brame was gaslighting Crystal, physically and emotionally abusing her while claiming to be the victim of her abuse and looping his subordinates into the idea. Their children, ages 8 and 5, were sitting in a nearby car. I never met Brame. Catherine Woodard, an assistant chief, is now acting chief, Mr. Corpuz said. Tacoma Police Chief Shoots Wife, Self TIM KLASS April 26, 2003 Comments The wife of Tacoma Police Chief David Brame was in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head after being. On the way home, Brame returned to his favorite subject: his divorce. The QB they wanted at 5 was gone, Man fatally shot on Puyallup tribal trust land identified by the medical examiner, Wrong-way driver kills Auburn man in head-on crash early Sunday, State Patrol says, Food insecurity on rise in Pierce County. Brame campaigned for chief and rolled up supporters, including elected officials. Thats fine, he recalled Corpuz saying. In court papers, Brame said his wife scratched, bruised and pushed him during two fights in September 1996. Avery Moore officially assumes role of Tacoma police chief Right out of college, she got a job working for the Tacoma Police Department and the local courts. The shooting took place around 3:10 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping center in this town northwest of Tacoma, Pierce County sheriffs spokesman Ed Troyer said. The stress of being a police chief and the publicity of his marital troubles must have come to a head, Frantz surmised. We were just shocked.. ``This is somebody everybody knew and respected., ``He was exactly what you want, Troyer added, ``rose up through the ranks, worked very hard and made chief.. The story said an internal affairs investigation at the time was inconclusive. She was found on the pavement beside her vehicle. His reporting work includes award-winning coverage related to criminal justice, government accountability and public disclosure. His wife, Crystal, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in critical condition. Few knew or noticed. ABCNEWS' Neal Karlinsky reported this story on Good Morning America. Tacoma officer sacrificed himself to save others, says witness At work, Brame talked of his crumbling marriage to anyone who would listen, from assistant chiefs and captains to his administrative assistant. Tacoma police officials say there was no outward indication that Brame was abusive or suicidal. The Brames children are reportedly staying with their mothers parents. What reforms were, werent or partially fulfilled. The children were left in David Brames car while he and Crystal Brame sat in her car and argued. He in turn said that his wife had a "ferocious temper," and was emotionally unstable. Capstone Green Energy is providing a second microturbine energy system to a large West Texas oil Four new members joined the Petroleum Hall of Fame at an induction dinner honoring the Class of 2023. "She was on her back, and there was blood everywhere. Florisi also talks about the human factors involved in critical incidents. She was in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle Sunday, according to her attorney. They couldnt go over his head there was no other head but Corpuz, who hired Brame. Troyer said Brame was highly respected. Barker said Brame was "vague" about his marital problems and did not report any physical assault. One person died after a reported Saturday evening shooting in Tacoma, according to the Tacoma Police Department. The couple's 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son were nearby when their father shot their mother, and then turned the gun on himself. Tacoma Police Chief David Brame kept a picture in his office, a framed portrait of a young executive: Al Pacino as cold-eyed Michael Corleone, the freshly anointed Godfather. He recalled how Chief Brame was ''beaming'' when his wife pinned a star to his chest at his installation ceremony in January 2002 as one of this city's youngest chiefs of police. Pullin said he then saw a woman quickly herd the children away from the scene. "Steps were taken to ensure Crystal's safety, and the kids, and she changed the locks on the house, per my suggestion, and she did other things," Lombino said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? What do you do when the boss falls apart? Officers. This story was originally published April 25, 2023, 1:57 PM. According to a Pierce County Sheriff's Department police-dispatch report, Crystal Brame called a sheriff's dispatch center the night of April 11 to allege that four hours earlier David Brame, accompanied by Assistant Police Chief Catherine Woodard, who was named last night to serve as acting chief of the department, came to Crystal's parents' home in the gated Canterwood neighborhood of Gig Harbor. His wife, Crystal, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. He also saw a bystander pick up the handgun and then make a call on his cellphone. I have a really big birthday gift for you, he said. Crystal Brame is 5 feet tall and weighs about 105 pounds. The wife of Tacoma Police Chief David Brame was in critical condition with a gunshot wound. The shootings took place around 3:10 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping center in this town northwest of Tacoma, Pierce County sheriffs spokesman Ed Troyer said. Tacoma Police Chief David Brame was killed and his wife was critically injured in an apparent murder-suicide attempt Saturday, a day after abuse allegations in the couple's divorce case were publicized in media reports. Crystal Brame sought a restraining order March 26, after Brame threatened her again, according to court papers. One witness said she saw people in the parking lot running around and screaming after the shootings. This story was originally published April 21, 2013, 5:00 AM. I didnt know the womans name. She told the police dispatcher that Woodard was not supposed to "be near her" because of "intimidation and threats.". I had little to go on. Editors were trying to be careful about an explosive story involving the personal lives of two people. Trauma-Informed Investigations for Officer-Involved Shootings and Critical Incidents. But Brame said he had been victimized in the relationship. City Manager Ray Corpuz said Brame also went to an FBI seminar in January on emotional survival training for law enforcement officers. TNT archives: Looking back at Tacoma's David Brame scandal | Tacoma But Brame said he had been victimized in the relationship. 1 min read. It touched off multiple investigations and shed light on officer-involved domestic violence. The shooting took place around 3:10 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping center in this town northwest of Tacoma, Troyer said. For example, Crystal Brame alleged that she was "very afraid" of her husband because he was controlling and threatening pointing a gun at her, keeping the couple's checkbook from her, insisting on going with her to routine doctor exams and checking her car odometer to make sure she had not strayed from permitted errands. David Brame, who was named Tacoma's police chief in late 2001, was described as a trusted insider committed to Tacoma, someone who could build bridges between the department and the community. The Brames' children ran toward their mother's car after hearing the shots, Troyer said. Always, he claimed to be an abused man, painting Crystal as an unstable spouse bent on destroying his career. He was also Mr. Brame's faculty adviser while a professor at the nearby University of Puget Sound. Brame was pronounced dead at 5:52 p.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Troyer said. 1/2 A witness said she saw people in the parking lot running around and screaming after the shootings. The chief was found slumped over in the passengers seat with a gunshot wound to the head, Troyer said. His vetting was iffy. April 28, 2003 -- Witnesses who saw Tacoma Police Chief David Brame shoot his estranged wife in a parking lot just south of Seattle all remember the same thing: the couple's children. Honestly, I dont remember how I found the woman, but I did, and wrote a story, under the watchful eye of TNT Executive Editor David Zeeck. The day before the shootings, allegations that he had abused his wife were made public. Department duties fell by the wayside. Acting Tacoma police chief replaced. No arrests have been made. Before the shootings, Brame had sought professional counseling to help deal with the stress of his impending divorce, a city official said Sunday. Benson was pronouced dead Thursday. Paramedics found Crystal Brame lying on the pavement beside her car, with the driver's side door ajar. The Tacoma native had been assistant police chief before being named chief. Why Bicycles are Great for Police and First Responders. ILEETA 2023: Training to Prevent the Next Uvalde. The shooting took place around 3:10 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping center in this town northwest of Tacoma, Troyer said. Inevitably, foolish narratives slithered in. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He brought three subordinates to one of his divorce hearings. Many other people were screaming and running from the parking lot. His 35 yr old wife was outside w/ non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The chief had been in the midst of a wrenching departmental audit, Mr. Baarsma said, but his demeanor betrayed little evidence of any deeper problems. Daddy hurt Mommy.' Our students are going to need continued support, says a director at Treehouse, a nonprofit that advocates for foster children and youth. Kids Saw Police Chief Shoot Wife, Kill Self - ABC News