226: Why work for Seattle Police? History, Discord, and Pride w/ Officer and Academy Instructor Britt Kelly

Many cops says they would never work for Seattle PD, or any big city because X, Y, Z.  So when I asked if any active cops wanted to come on and rep their agency, I was excited for Britt’s response. I’ve known Britt Kelly for a few years, but I knew her name and story from when I was a new solo cop, when her FTO, Tim Brenton was murdered on duty in their squad car. 

Britt shares about her career, and we discuss the difficult “relationship” we have with our departments, and why it may be time to go, or endure for the things you hold most dearly- values, people, and leadership.

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Britt became a sworn law enforcement officer for the Seattle Police Department in August 2009. On Halloween night in 2009, a mere 20 shifts into her career and still on FTO, Britt experienced the unimaginable. Britt and her training officer, Tim Brenton were ambushed. Officer Brenton was killed instantly. Britt survived being grazed twice by .223 rounds.

After two months on administrative leave, Britt, not without fear, but in spite of fear, returned to FTO.  Britt went on to work nights in Seattle’s Belltown bar district. In 2014 she earned a distinguished role on the department’s night bicycle squad, patrolling the downtown corridor, participating in drug operations and other undercover stings.

Continuing to broaden her career, in 2017 Britt moved to detectives for the Force Investigation Team (FIT). While on FIT she responded to and was the lead investigator for officer involved shootings and other high level uses of force.

In 2023 Britt became part of the training unit on the FTO side of the house. While here she worked directly with the student officers upon their graduation from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. After only being in this role for a year, an opportunity as a TAC Officer at CJTC presented itself. Since May 2024 Britt has been teaching the recruits for all local jurisdictions as a TAC and loving all that it is.

britt@brittsweeney.com

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*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic