It may have happened in the county next door, but the death of Forest Service Officer Kristine Fairbanks has hit home for Jefferson County law enforcement.
Both the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Port Townsend Police Department officers are wearing black bands around their badges until after Monday’s memorial service for Fairbanks in Port Angeles.
“It’s a tradition we have that helps us express our mourning,” said Jefferson County Undersheriff Tony Hernandez.
“It lets others know a fellow officer has fallen and lets them know we are mourning that loss.”
Fifteen Jefferson sheriff’s deputies helped in the search for Fairbanks’ killer Saturday. They joined law enforcement officers from Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police, U.S. Border Patrol, Hoquiam Police Department, Clallam County Sheriff’s Department, Port Angeles Police Department, Sequim Police Department and State Patrol.
The Jefferson County deputies scoured the roads near the border of Jefferson and Clallam counties and were minutes away when Clallam sheriff’s deputies shot and killed Roe, Hernandez said.
Members of both the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Port Townsend Police Department will be among the 5,000 law enforcement officers attending the service for Fairbanks on Monday.
