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Newly graduated BPD Officer Brittany Bille is following her grandfather, Riverside County Sheriff Deputy James Evans, into law enforcement. On May 9, 1980, Deputy Evans was killed in the line of duty. Brittany graduated on May 12, 2022, almost exactly 42 years later!
Riverside County Sheriff's Department, in honor of Deputy Evans, sent a member of their honor guard to Burien to attend the law enforcement graduation of their fallen deputy's granddaughter. What an incredible display of honor, pride, and family by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, to bridge the gap between their fallen deputy and his granddaughter, we will forever be in their debt.
Here is the story about the day Deputy Evans sacrificed all:
On May 9, 1980, five men dressed in Army fatigues robbed the Security Pacific Bank in Norco. The men were carrying automatic weapons and were heavily armed. Several deputies responded and gunfight ensued in the parking lot. One suspect was shot and killed and several others fled the scene in a stolen car. While fleeing with approximately $20,000 in cash, the suspects were chased by many local law enforcement agencies.
Many deputies and one CHP officer were struck by gunfire. A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was shot down by the robbers. The desperate suspects also shot two children, who survived with minor wounds. Toward the end of the pursuit, Deputy James Evans assumed the position of lead car. The suspects set up an ambush as Deputy Evans rounded a curve in the remote mountainous region called Lytle Creek. The suspects pointed their high-powered rifles and shot Deputy Evan who died moments later.
The suspects fled on foot and a massive manhunt for them was conducted through the night and into the next day. Three of the five suspects were captured. One suspect was killed at the bank and another was killed while being apprehended.
Deputy James Evans had served with RSO for five years and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Rest in peace, Deputy Evans!
#bp176
Bike to work/school day and we were ready this morning! Sgt Nelson and Lt Monson handing out the coffee and donuts for some extra energy......and yes, the bacon will be back next year - we promise!
Thank you to all for putting a smile on our faces today. It was wonderful to be outside on such a gorgeous day, chatting with happy cyclists.
🍩+🥓+🚓= 😀🚴
💙💙
#bp176 #BikeToWorkDay
We want to congratulate our most recent graduates of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) in Burien!
All four BPD officers were part of Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) Class 832 and are quite the accomplished group. As a class they raised $12,615 for the Special Olympics Washington by participating in the polar plunge. Class 832 is the largest donor in Washington State! Well done, Class 832. BPD Officer H. Smith organized the class participation in the event.
Individually they did very well and represented BPD and the City of Bellingham well. Introducing:
Officer Brittany Bille, Badge #326
- 1st in class for academics
- 3rd in class overall
- Selected as one of five squad leaders (responsible for supporting members of their squad and serving as a liaison in the chain of command.)
Officer Peter Tran, Badge #328
- 1st in class overall
- 2nd in class for practical skills
- 2nd in class for academics
Officer Heather Smith, Badge #329
- Class scribe
- Enrichment Scholarship Award Recipient
Officer Joshua Terry, Badge #330
- Class treasurer
We are all proud of how our newest officers represented themselves at the academy. Now it is time for the field training phase where they put into practice what they learned at the academy under the watchful eye of our field training cadre. We wish them the best during this next phase.
Stay tuned for an absolutely wonderful and honorable surprise for Officer B. Bille during her graduation.
Photo from left to right:
Deputy Chief D. Crass, Officer P. Tran, Officer J. Terry, Officer B. Bille, Officer H. Smith, Lieutenant J. Monson.
#bp176
National Police Week is May 11-17
In May of each year the nation observes National Police Week and this year it is May 11-17. In 1962, President Kennedy issued a proclamation deeming May 15 of each year, National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. A joint resolution of Congress in 1962 established National Police Week which pays special tribute to those law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund webpage, ‘National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community.’
Each year, during National Police Week, the names of the officers lost in the line of duty from the previous year are etched into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington DC. Family, friends, and colleagues travel to attend special ceremonies and trace the etched names of their loved ones.
Added to the wall in 2022 are the following Washington law enforcement officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in 2021, and earlier years:
Alexandra B. Harris, Seattle PD, EOW 6-13-21
Gabriel K. Forrest, WA DOC, EOW 6-17-21
Jeremy R. Brown, Clark County, EOW 7-23-21
Eric T. Gunderson, WSP, EOW 9-26-21
Reginald B. Thomas, King County, EOW 9-7-20
David A. Christensen, WA DOC, EOW 12-29-20
Jon D. Anderson, Spokane PD, EOW 7-5-19
We honor, respect and remember these brave officers every day, especially this week as their names are added to the memorial.
May they all rest in peace.
#nationalpoliceweek #neverforget #bp176
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The defendant plead guilty to several charges mid-trial, right after an incredibly brave survivor testified to the jury about the crimes committed against her. That is a telling statement.
Without the immense work put in by the investigating detective and the attorneys to carefully put together these complicated cases to bring forward to the jury, this may not have ended in a plea by the defendant.
Thank you to the investigating detective and the trial attorneys to work in concert to get justice for the survivors. We stand with the brave survivors who came forward to report this man to police and for the bravery exhibited during testimony. May this guilty plea begin your road to healing.On May 19, 2022, a man pled guilty in the middle of his jury trial to three counts of Child Molestation in the First Degree, three counts of Rape in the Third Degree, and one count Assault in the Second Degree Domestic Violence. Judge Lee Grochmal presided over the trial and found the defendant guilty of those charges at his change of plea. After a two day trial, which included testimony of one of the survivors, the defendant changed his plea to an amended information which resolved multiple other pending matters. The Court ordered the Department of Corrections to provide a pre-sentence investigation and once received, a sentencing hearing will follow.
We would like to thank the Bellingham Police Department for their thorough investigation in all these matters.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Kellen Kooistra and Kacie Emerick. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
ANOTHER FINE JOB BY OUR LEGAL TEAM !
Nice work police DOC & prosecutors!
Thak you all for such excellent work!
May God heal your wounds. Don't hold those hidden wounds, let God have them.
Good job!
I wish I could have gotten a result like this in Skagit county. My pedophile rapist ex plead out and got almost no time. He gets out in a year and will be in your community free to hurt a child again very soon
Thank you for getting these evil people off the streets!
what a fuckin demon
Don’t celebrate yet. The job isnt finished until this monster is sentenced properly. Who wants to guess he’ll get 5 years and be out in 3.
Great work by all! 🚔💙👍
Granger Kash
Surprised Prosecutor Ritchie didn’t just give him probation 🤷🏼♂️
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Bike to work/school day. Bike to work/school day and we were ready this morning! Sgt Nelson and Lt Monson handing out the coffee and donuts for some extra energy......and yes, the bacon will be back next year - we promise!
🍩+🥓+🚓= 😀🚴
💙💙
Thank you for putting a smile on our faces today as you all visited us at the station.
Watch this video made by our own Officer Knutsen about preventing bike theft here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfjxy6P68-w&t=1s
For more information about preventing bike theft visit our webpage at cob.org/services/safety/police-services/neighborhoods-policing/bicycle-theft-prevention ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Newly graduated BPD Officer Brittany Bille is following her grandfather, Riverside County Sheriff Deputy James Evans, into law enforcement. On May 9, 1980, Deputy Evans was killed in the line of duty. Brittany graduated on May 12, 2022, almost exactly 42 years later!
Riverside County Sheriff's Department, in honor of Deputy Evans, sent a member of their honor guard to Burien to attend the law enforcement graduation of their fallen deputy's granddaughter. What an incredible display of honor, pride, and family by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, to bridge the gap between their fallen deputy and his granddaughter, we will forever be in their debt.
Photos are of Deputy Evans and Riverside County Sheriff Honor Guard Deputy and BPD Officer Bille.
Here is the story about the day Deputy Evans sacrificed all:
On May 9, 1980, five men dressed in Army fatigues robbed the Security Pacific Bank in Norco. The men were carrying automatic weapons and were heavily armed. Several deputies responded and gunfight ensued in the parking lot. One suspect was shot and killed and several others fled the scene in a stolen car. While fleeing with approximately $20,000 in cash, the suspects were chased by many local law enforcement agencies.
Many deputies and one CHP officer were struck by gunfire. A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was shot down by the robbers. The desperate suspects also shot two children, who survived with minor wounds. Toward the end of the pursuit, Deputy James Evans assumed the position of lead car. The suspects set up an ambush as Deputy Evans rounded a curve in the remote mountainous region called Lytle Creek. The suspects pointed their high-powered rifles and shot Deputy Evan who died moments later.
The suspects fled on foot and a massive manhunt for them was conducted through the night and into the next day. Three of the five suspects were captured. One suspect was killed at the bank and another was killed while being apprehended.
Deputy James Evans had served with RSO for five years and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Deputy Evans began his law enforcement career in 1974 as a Reserve Officer with Colton Police Department. He attended the Riverside County Sheriff's 61st Basic Academy in the fall of 1975. Deputy Evans left behind a wife and six children. We remember Deputy James Evans and his selfless service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Visit the following page on the Officer Down Memorial Page.
www.odmp.org/officer/4669-deputy-sheriff-james-b-evans ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I'm so glad you chose BPD. Congratulations and be safe, Thank you
My husband became a Riverside Deputy and K9 handler a few years after this tragic event. Brittany, thank you for helping to keep us safe here In Whatcom County. Law enforcement is a much tougher job these days! Your grandfather would be very proud of you!
That's awesome. Congratulations, your granddad would be so proud!
Welcome BPD Officer Brittany Bille! I’m sure that you will bring honor to your grandfather’s name. Thank you for choosing to protect and serve this community. Bless you, and stay safe.
Thank you for sharing such a meaningful and moving story. Thank you for serving our community Officer Bille.
What a small world! My mother used to babysit the Riverside Deputy when she was a baby in FL Lisa Manning Davis
Thank you for serving and sacrificing, for our country! God Bless You!
Glad to have your service, Officer Bille
Welcome! We wish you a long and safe career!
I was born and raised in Riverside. I remember seeing LE fly down the street. I live in Whatcom Co. Welcome and Stay Safe!! 💙💙💙💙
Congratulations💞
What a legacy of serving our community. Her grandfather would be very proud, as well as the rest of the family. Congratulations Officer Bille.
Please catch the bike thief’s destroying Bellingham’s reputation.
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We want to congratulate our most recent graduates of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) in Burien!
All four BPD officers were part of Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) Class 832 and are quite the accomplished group. As a class they raised $12,615 for the Special Olympics Washington by participating in the polar plunge. Class 832 is the largest donor in Washington State! Well done, Class 832. BPD Officer Heather Smith was the class representative to speak publicly about their participation in the Polar Plunge.
Individually they did very well and represented BPD and the City of Bellingham well. Introducing:
Officer Brittany Bille, Badge #326
- 1st in class for academics
- 3rd in class overall
- Selected as one of five squad leaders (responsible for supporting members of their squad and serving as a liaison in the chain of command.)
Officer Peter Tran, Badge #328
- 1st in class overall
- 2nd in class for practical skills
- 2nd in class for academics
Officer Heather Smith, Badge #329
- Class scribe
- Enrichment Scholarship Award Recipient
Officer Joshua Terry, Badge #330
- Class treasurer
We are all proud of how our newest officers represented themselves at the academy. Now it is time for the field training phase where they put into practice what they learned at the academy under the watchful eye of our field training cadre. We wish them the best during this next phase.
Stay tuned for an absolutely wonderful and honorable surprise for Officer B. Bille during her graduation.
Photo from left to right:
Deputy Chief D. Crass, Officer P. Tran, Officer J. Terry, Officer B. Bille, Officer H. Smith, Lieutenant J. Monson. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Holy Moly, the badge numbers are so high!!! Congratulations rookies, be safe out there!
Congratulations to you all. Thank you for your dedication and service to our community. Bellingham needs you. Stay Safe❣️
Congratulations on your graduation & your awards. Best of wishes in your dream job & thank you for wanting to serve & protect us 24/7. God bless you.
God's blessing upon you all.May he watch over you each and every day.Congratulations💞
Congratulations on completing your training so far. Your commitment and dedication is greatly appreciated. Thank you 💙🖤💙🖤!
Congratulations. now the tough starts now. The Training Officer. all aside good luck, you all chose a great department.
Congratulations to all of you. Be safe and God Bless.
Welcome to BPD! Congratulations on your achievements, and thank you for choosing to serve our city.
CONGRATULATIONS !! WELCOME TO THE CLUB !! BPD 038 !!
Congratulations and thank you for choosing to protect our community! Prayers for the safety of you all. God bless!!
Congratulations! Welcome! Prayers are with you and your families.
Congratulations. Thank you for serving and protecting our community.
Congratulations! Stay safe 💙
Well done. Congratulations!
Congratulations. God bless and protect you. 💙🙏
congratulations and welcome to the Bellingham Family. Thank you for choosing to serve our community. May you have a long, safe career.
hank You ALL for such good works!
Congratulations dear granddaughter Heather Smith and all the new graduates.
Congratulations and may God bless you and keep you safe 🎉🎊💞
Nice looking Deputy Chief !!
Congratulations and thank you
Congratulations!
Congratulations and thanks for protecting all!
Congratulations to all. We are very proud you. 👏
Congratulations to all of you and thank you for keeping us safe.
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