Kristine Fairbanks was the only U.S. Forest Service Officer in the state of Washington to have a canine police partner-one of only 40 others in the United States. She was killed Saturday Sep 20th by a suspicious subject she was checking out. Less than 7 hours after Officer Fairbanks was shot and killed at a local Olympic National Forest campground, her killer was shot to death by Clallam County Sheriff's deputies at a local convenience store where the subject had entered shortly after employees were given a picture of the man.

Shortly after the subject had slain the officer, he killed a man not too much further away and stole his pick-up truck-before the subject was later brought down.

I attended Officer Fairbanks' memorial service at Civic Field in Port Angeles, WA on Sep 29, with around 3000 law enforcement representatives from agencies all over the state of Washington as well as from Canada, and several fire/EMS agencies.

Officer Fairbanks and I had occasionally crossed paths during community events. I had seen her the week-end before she was killed-at the same convenience store where her killer was brought down-where she was gassing up her police cruiser-her partner, Radar, waiting for her. 2 other members of our fire department and myself were returning from a community safety day event in a near-by county. I have posted some pictures I took at the memorial service and will be posting more as I sort through them.

Officer Fairbanks leaves behind a 15 year old daughter and law-enforcement husband, Brian.