By Mario Lotmore | Lynnwood Times Staff
ARTICLE UPDATES
- 8:08 AM APRIL 13: Added a statement from Lynnwood Police Chief Jim Nelson
- 8:08 AM APRIL 13: Added a statement from Lynnwood City Councilwoman Christine Frizzell
- 3:12 PM APRIL 12: Added a statement from Lynnwood City Councilwoman Julieta Altamirano-Crosby
- 2:05 PM APRIL 12: Added a statement from Lynnwood City Council President George Hurst.
Lynnwood, Wash., April 12, 2021 – Lynnwood Police Officer Mark Brinkman, 56, passed away unexpectedly last night at Providence Medical Hospital in Everett after collapsing in his home earlier that evening.
Brinkman, Lynnwood Police Guild President and a 35-year law enforcement veteran, served his last 25 years with the Lynnwood Police Department. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) honored Brinkman as its 2016 Law Enforcement Liaison of the Year.
Brinkman is survived by his wife Leslie and their adult three children.
Statements by LPD Chief Jim Nelson and others
“The Lynnwood community has lost a great Police Officer and leader with the passing of Mark Brinkman, wrote Lynnwood City Council President George Hurst. “His expertise in DUI recognition and his calm demeanor in responding to calls made Lynnwood a safer place. Mark was an imposing presence on the streets, and it reflected the compassion he had for his fellow officers and for the residents of Lynnwood. We are all better for having had Mark be part of the Lynnwood Police Department.”
“My heartfelt condolences go out to Officer Brickman’s family. Lynnwood has lost a treasured member of our law enforcement community,” Lynnwood City Councilwoman Julieta Altamirano-Crosby said.
“Mark was an incredible human being. His service to our community, his family and God cannot be overstated,” Councilman Jim Smith told the Lynnwood Times. “There is a piece of my heart that now seems to be missing. I will remember him as an incredible servant and as a friend. Thoughts and prayers are not enough for this giant of our Lynnwood family. He will be greatly missed by all.”
“Every time I connected with Mark, I knew he cared about those he served with and how they served the people of our city,” wrote Councilwoman Christine Frizzell in a statement to the Lynnwood Times. “He always had a friendly greeting and word of encouragement. He was personable, well respected, and genuine. He loved his family and his faith community deeply. His passing leaves a hole in our hearts and in our community. Please join me in praying for Mark’s family and our LPD family as we grieve.
“Mark is a brother in Christ, high integrity, outstanding police officer and a loving and forgiving man of God,” wrote Councilwoman Shannon Sessions in a Facebook post. “He served his family well, his community, his church family, City of Lynnwood, his LPD family, other fellow first responders and more.”
“This is a shocking, sudden, major loss,” she added.
The Lynnwood Times will be updating the article as we receive statements from officials.
3 Responses
My name is Steve Brinkman, I am Mark Brinkman’s oldest brother. Thank you so much for recognizing him for who he is. He was a gentle giant.
For me and anyone who knew him, he was humble, and for myself someone I could look up to even as an older brother.
He had a deep faith in Jesus Christ, that is what guided him through life, and that is what guided him as a Police Officer as well, it kept him from becoming “jaded”, it allowed him to serve in his profession with compassion, and an example to those around him. He always had the belief that no one was beyond help.
I was on the benefactor of reeving that from him in my own personal life. Mark & I had served as Police Officers together, but I lost my way in life on more that one occasion, and he was always there for me.
I miss my little brother more than I could even express here, the pain is deep and real.
So sorry that we lost this brother. I-had not heard, and was traveling home from my fire shift when I saw the members of the first responder community lining the freeways and overpasses. I had the honor of parking just in time to join the uniformed in saluting officer Brinkman’s processional. God speed brother.