David brame

10 YEARS LATER

Looking back at former Tacoma police chief David Brame

Published April 21st, 2013

Ten years ago, the city's top law enforcement officer became the city's worst criminal when he fatally shot his wife and then himself. Afterward, community leaders realized David Brame wasn't the only problem. Policies and attitudes had to change.

Father of Crystal Judson turns tragedy into fight for DV victims

Published April 21st, 2013

You're not supposed to outlive your child. The world shouldn't work that way.

No shortage of clients for Family Justice Center

Published April 21st, 2013

Nearly 10 years after Crystal Judson's death, the domestic-violence center bearing her name does brisk business at 718 Court E. in Tacoma.

Long-time Tacoma police chief pushes reforms at battered department

Published April 21st, 2013

At Tacoma police headquarters on South Pine Street, faces stare from a line of portraits along a wall.

10 years after: Promises made, some promises kept

Published April 21st, 2013

In the wake of the David Brame scandal 10 years ago, Tacoma city leaders, police officials and community members proposed changes and made promises to ensure that nothing similar happened again in Tacoma.

ARCHIVE

The Thin Blue Lie - Part I: Inside David Brame's police department

Published September 15th, 2003

In the hour of his greatest triumph, David Brame turned to his wife and children. "They're my bookends," Brame said. "They keep me up."

The Thin Blue Lie - Part II: David Brame's life, career crumble when wife seeks a way out

Published September 15th, 2003

David Brame's tenure as Tacoma's police chief began with high hopes and ambitious plans. But his gleaming public image was a facade, masking a marriage tainted by domestic violence, and a department command staff fractured by dissension and internal rivalries.

The Thin Blue Lie - Part III: Brame ends wife's hopes for a new life

Published September 16th, 2003

Crystal Brame stood over a German chocolate cake, took a big breath and blew out the candles. It was her 35th birthday, and this year she gave herself an early gift: She was starting a new life.

Timing, skill, luck propelled Brame's rise to power

Published June 15th, 2003

Patrick Stephens figured Ray Corpuz would ask the question eventually. Finally it came. "If I pick you," Tacoma's city manager said, "what role would you have David Brame play?"

HR sticks to Brame story

Published May 31st, 2003

Tacoma's top two Human Resources officials said Friday that they asked the city's top lawyers to help them seek administrative leave for Police Chief David Brame one day before he fatally shot himself and his wife.

Corpuz rise, fall

Published July 6th, 2003

"Government as Unusual." That's how the authors of a book about effective management once described Tacoma's City Hall. They meant it as a compliment. City Manager Ray Corpuz, a devotee of the "total quality management" principles that transformed Japanese and American business culture, brought the ideas to the City of Tacoma in the mid-1990s.

State: Brame fostered culturally corrupt agency

Published November 18th, 2003

David Brame ran a culturally corrupt police department, marked by "troubling management issues," a willingness to overlook misconduct and a dictatorial leadership style that required blind obedience. Tacoma leaders missed several chances to act against the police chief, and perhaps prevent his fatal shooting of his wife, Crystal, and himself, state law enforcement officials said Monday.

Many in city saw Brame's descent

Published November 26th, 2003

Some day, the list of people who saw David Brame falling apart will stop growing. But not yet. Records released this week of a six-month state investigation into the Brame scandal shed brighter light on the Tacoma police chief's deterioration, erratic behavior and sexual obsessions.

City, family settle Brame lawsuit

Published September 14th, 2005

The money won't bring Crystal Judson back. But a settlement agreement between her family and the City of Tacoma enshrines her name at a planned center devoted to assisting domestic violence victims. It ends the long-running wrongful-death suit stemming from the shootings of April 26, 2003, when Police Chief David Brame fatally shot his wife and himself.

All clamor, little action

Published October 30th, 2005

The final chapter of the David Brame scandal reveals some police commanders resisting their deteriorating police chief's commands. Others went over his head for help, but got little from then-City Manager Ray Corpuz.

On April 26, 2003 Tacoma Police Chief David Brame fatally wounded his wife, Crystal, and then killed himself. The shootings still reverberate, and Tacoma reels from their impact.