Police Officer Theodore E. Stevens

Theodore E. Stevens

Police Officer Theodore Stevens and Police Officer Trent Sickles were shot and killed by three burglary suspects at 8904 Roosevelt Way.

The officers had received a report of a burglary in progress at a beer parlor just over the city line outside of Seattle. The officers responded to backup sheriff's deputies but arrived first. Officer Sickles went to cover the front door while Officer Stevens went to the rear door. As Officer Sickles reached the front door he was shot and killed. Officer Stevens ran to help his partner and he too was shot and killed by the suspects.

On April 2, 1936, all three suspects were apprehended in Hollywood, California. Two brothers and their brother-in-law were stealing slot machines from the parlor. All three were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. Two were sentenced to life and the third was hanged at Walla Walla Penitentiary on November 21, 1938. On November 11, 1949, one of the men was pardoned by Governor Arthur B. Langlie.

Officer Stevens had served with the Seattle Police Department for six years.