SEATTLE — A procession was held Wednesday as the Seattle Police Department escorted the body of Officer Alexandra “Lexi” Brenneman Harris from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office to the Bonney Watson Funeral Home in SeaTac.
Harris was hit and killed on I-5 early Sunday morning after stopping on her way home to assist with a crash.
Washington State Patrol said that Harris, who was off-duty at the time, had stopped around 1:20 a.m. to help with a three-vehicle pileup on I-5 near Columbian Way.
Shortly after exiting her car, she was hit and killed by another vehicle.
The driver who struck Harris was cooperative with troopers.
However, one of the individuals involved in the crash that Harris had stopped to help with got into her car and drove away.
The vehicle was found later that day abandoned, and the suspect is still on the loose.
The family of the 38-year-old officer released a statement that reads:
"Lexi was a dedicated Seattle police officer who loved her work and was committed to bringing her considerable thoughtfulness and vision to the challenges of serving the community through compassionate policing. She also was a daughter, sister, a partner and 'mother-by-choice' and for whom family was paramount.”
A Seattle native, Harris attended Nova High School and went to college at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she studied kinesiology, according to family friend Barbara Smith.
Smith said Harris will be remembered for her service to the community.
"A great legacy of public service and warm friendship and she was an amazing, amazing woman," Smith said.
Smith said fitness and health awareness were important to Harris. Harris served SPD's west precinct and the department's Wellness Unit. She later participated in the SPD's Community Response Group.
"She was feisty, she was funny, happy, really a force to be reckoned with," Smith said.
A funeral date has yet to be set. The Seattle Police Department is planning Harris's funeral alongside her family.
Since her death, there has been an outpouring of condolences from the community, including several law enforcement agencies around the region.
Harris was with the SPD’s patrol operations bureau for five years, Assistant Chief Tom Mahaffey said.
WSP is asking anyone with information about the suspect who stole Harris’ vehicle to call 425-401-7742.
The Seattle Police Department would like to invite members of the public to show their support by sending flowers, cards and offerings of support in honor of Harris to the Seattle Police Department West Precinct at 810 Virginia St, Seattle, Wash, 98101.