Deputy Sheriff Dennis Wayne Bryant, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Washington

Deputy Sheriff Dennis Wayne Bryant

Benton County Sheriff's Office, Washington

End of Watch Monday, April 22, 1991

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Dennis Wayne Bryant

Deputy Bryant was killed by a drunk driver who was driving with his head lights turned off. Deputy Bryant was responding to backup another deputy who was pursuing a domestic assault suspect. The drunk driver had just left a local bar after being involved in an altercation and had turned off his lights after seeing the first deputy's patrol car, fearing he would be arrested.

The drunk driver struck Deputy Bryan's vehicle head-on and both men were killed. Toxicology reports showed that the driver had a BAC of .10 and had smoked marijuana shortly before the incident.

Deputy Bryant had served with the agency for almost 4 years and had served in law enforcement for 10 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and brother.

Bio

Age 30
Tour 10 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
Offender Killed in crash

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Most Recent Reflection

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I was thinking today about Dennis & a life cut too short. I remember him visiting the office with his girls. How tall he was & how little they were, shy, peaking around his legs.
We went to the opening of the law enforcement memorial in Olympia. I was busy getting a rubbing of Dennis’s name & this pesky reporter kept asking me questions. Then I heard someone (I thought it was the reporter) ask if I knew Dennis, & I flippantly answered yes, I did. He then said I am his father. I was so distraught, I jumped & hugged him.
Dennis was a K-9 officer and there was a large contingency of Officers with their K-9s at his funeral. At some point, maybe after taps, at the cemetery, all the K-9s started howling. It was absolutely heart breaking to hear.
My husband, Dwight, for several years after he retired made a point of attending all the law enforcement funerals in our state. I just couldn’t bring myself to go to any more LEO funerals.

Retired BCSO Clerk
Linda Davison

Clerk, Linda Davison
Benton County Sheriff's Office

December 26, 2022