Passing of Officer Brian Hunter

It with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Officer Brian Hunter #237. Officer Hunter passed away peacefully this morning in his home after a hard-fought battle with a brain tumor that was initially discovered in 2020.

Officer Hunter joined our Tukwila PD family in April of 2018 after spending 12 years as an officer with the Baton Rouge Police Department where he served as a Field Training Officer (FTO) and then as a detective. Upon completion of our field training program, Officer Hunter was assigned to our patrol division where he excelled, always going above and beyond to ensure the most thorough completion of all of his cases. After the tumor was discovered in 2020, Officer Hunter underwent grueling treatments to battle it. While most people would have medically retired from duty, Officer Hunter returned to full-duty status several times over the past four years and also worked in a light-duty capacity behind the scenes doing investigations, taking phone reports, and performing other administrative tasks to keep the department up and running. His tireless dedication to the department and community are a testament to the resilience and strength that he displayed throughout his life.

In 2022, Officer Hunter received the Life Saving Award from King County for his efforts in saving the life of a woman who had been found unconscious and not breathing inside of her residence. Officer Hunter arrived on scene, applied an AED to the victim and immediately began providing CPR and continued life saving efforts. The woman was transported to the hospital and made a full recovery which would not have happened except for the efforts of Officer Hunter and the subsequent followup medical care received from the fire department and hospital personnel.

Officer Hunter was always one to care for those around him and put a smile on their faces even during their darkest moments. He saw the best in everyone and enriched the lives of those around him with his humor, knowledge and compassion. His faith, love and compassion for everyone around him will always be remembered by those who had the honor of knowing him.

We extend our condolences to Officer Hunter’s family during this trying time. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

A special thank you to the Renton Police Department, WA and the Kent Police Department for their assistance with the procession to the funeral home this afternoon. It meant a lot to our department and the family to see such an amazing show of honor and support for Officer Hunter during this difficult time.