Police: Plainwell officer, wife die in apparent murder-suicide

A public safety officer and his wife are dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Allegan County. via WOOD-TV Grand Rapids

[kenjezow]

Not only another cowardly senseless domestic violence Killing !! But also another police officer thinking that their Badge means they can do whatever they want.(No not all officers believe that) I know some good officers. Obviously this wasn't one of them.. This officer did seem to try and intimidate this woman with his authority. He was COWARD !!
This is solely my opinion..

[Phil]

The vast majority of police officers do an honorable job, this one lost it but I don't believe his being an officer had anything to do with it.

I guess I've been quite protective in my ilfe, never really exposed to domenstic violence and I guess I just don't get it. If things are that bad leave. I know that sounds over simplified, but some times I believe our culture trys to make it too complex.......leave.

[Jeff]

I am not going to protect him because he is a cop, I'm a cop. I think what he did was completely wrong and disgusting, BUT, put yourself in his shoes for a second as a regular man. This officer is a regular man with emotions just like everyone else. He is prone to depression, jealosy, anger and rage like all other men. If you put your self in a situation where you catch your wife, the mother of your 2 year old child screwing another guy and then leaving you for him.... your gonna be enraged!!! This is why the law stipulates a "Heat of Passion murder". This is a murder that is committed by heat of passion or in the moment because you are literally out of your mind with anger. Your are not planning the murder, or "laying in wait", it just happened because of "Heat of passion for someone". They went temporarily nuts.
I am ashamed that it is a police officer, I hold my fellow officers to a higher regard, but it was also just a man who went literally crazy and lost control and then saw no way out. I give my deepest sympathy to the victims family for loosing their daughter, and to the officers family for loosing their son, but lets hope that 2 year old little girl can forget the whole thing!!!!!

[wondering]

Jeff
You bring dishonor to your gender, your noble profession and all of humanity. "If your wife was screwing another guy..." You are a despicable human being. Beneath contempt. Pam was unequivocably faithful to that scuz bag. She was, in part, leaving for another male. But it was not a man, it was a boy. Her son. The one who had lived with Pam, Kayla and scuz bag. The one who was so uncomfortable around and afraid of that scuz bag that he chose to move out for his safety. She wanted herself and her kids to be free from his deviant world. So, it was not into the arms of a lover, you liar, it was out of maternal love and self respect that she tried to get out. And even if she were being unfaithful, I can't believe you would try to rationalize his actions. Shame on you. And from a police officer?! This is why more psych testing, on-going psych testing is needed with public safety officers. You need to get weeded out, the idea of you carrying around a side arm scares me. He did not just snap in the heat of passion. He created and controlled an aura of fear and intimidation. He was a thug before he graduated to murderer. Making ignorant, insensitive comments like that are what makes people think cops are jackasses. So, for your fellow men and women in blue, SHUT UP!

[wondering]

Phil,
She was trying to leave when he killed her. You are right about one thing, you just don't get it.

[an officers wife]

wondering... It sounds to me like YOU need psych testing. I knew the family. She wasn't an angel! think twice before you write crap about someone that is not true! Thank you!
-an officers wife

[firefighters wife]

I would really like to know why the family of the victim cannot seem to grieve in silence like the Brainard family is doing. I think this is a tragic "Heat of Passion" situation as Jeff said previously, that turned into something that will affect both families forever. Yes, I know the Brainard's well, but my sympathies lie with both families. It does absolutely no good trashing either family in the press as some poeple have insisted on doing throughout the week. Hey, both sides lost someone they loved and ya' know what.....they were both someone's kids!!! So let's do everyone a favor...unless you have been in their houses...eaten breakfast with them....lets stop the crap.

[an officers wife]

I'm just getting sick of the people bashing the police officers/firefighters! I was at Kevin's funeral and did hear what the pastor said. I am very sorry what had happened to both families. My husband is also grieving. He worked with Kevin. My prayers go out to both families and the friends of Kevin and Pam.
-an officers wife

[sadie mae]

I was the victim of spousal abuse for 6 years, beat up all the time. My husband was NOT a cop. It can happen anywhere to anyone. Please, it is a terrible situation, pray for both families, they have both lost a loved one, and one family has to live with the fact that their son lost control and killed his wife. Let go and let GOD have control now.

[Otsego resident]

The first person I'd call in case of trouble is a police officer. They do a hard job for all of us. What happened in this situation is something that no one could predict and no one should bash the firefighters and police who put themselves on the line for us every day. Pray for the families. Both families need our prayers.

[Bill]

Wondering. Don't tell me this is the first time this happened, had she left before this would of been avoided. I understand that battered women syndrome, however I don't buy it completely. People have choices.

Police officers, firefighters, and our military are the most honorable job anyone can do, his being a cop has nothing to do with the abuse.......My heart goes out to both families and they will be hin my thoughts and prayers.

[wondering]

Bill, Sorry but I've gotta tell you that yes, it was the first time she actually built up the courage and felt she had enough support to actually leave him It was also the first time he shot her several times at close range. You say people have choices. To an extent they do, but what choice did Kevin give her on November 4th? He made the choice how, when and where she would die. That was not her choice. Also, don't play the "his being a cop had nothing to do with it" card. I am not anti-police. To the contrary, I contribute annually to MPOA. I have held the police, firefighters and military personnel in the highest regard for for my entire life. Both my parents are retired public safety officers and I am proud of the work both they and countless other good men and women have done and do for everyone else in society. I have long thought they are underpaid and too easily targeted for criticism. This is in part why my initial comment may have been a bit coarse. Kevin Brainard left every honest, ethical, moral police officer with a mark of shame. The fact that this murderer was put in the ground in his uniform diminishes the public's view of police. This is not my opinion, but what my parents and their former colleagues have said. Just because some of these posters, maybe even you, knew Kevin or the Brainard family doesn't change what he was. A bad cop and an evil man. And firefighters wife, if your sympathies are with both families as you claim, then you have no right to criticize the response and reaction from Pam's family. And officers wife, I have not written one word that is untrue. You or your husband saw and heard what Kevin wanted you to see and hear. If you want to know what the real Kevin Brainard was like, ask his former step-son. His first hand experiences living with Kevin tell a very different tale than the one Kevin's family and SOME of the PPD people are still grasping to. But no one from Kev's work has bothered to check in with Pam's son. This is fact. If it is not, please tell me differently. Their response to the murder is very telling as to what their true character is. So criticize me all you want. When the dust from the upcoming lawsuits settles, I imagine we'll be seeing a PPD that looks vastly different from today.

[an officers wife]

Well... Like I've said. My thoughts and prayers go out to BOTH families and the friends of BOTH Kevin AND Pam.
-an officers wife

[Jack]

What a terrible terrible tragedy. As a community, we need to work harder at looking after each other and seeing what we can do to help people or stop situations like this from getting so out of hand.

[Local SW WMU student]

With no disrespect to the families of the victims here, I was so deeply troubled on hearing such horrifying local news that I brought this case up in our social work class. We reviewed this case in light of general practitioner procedures and came to the conclusion that in order to provide better safety and support to a spouse being abused, there need to be more available counseling and protective services in the area. So with this incidence, it makes me wonder if the wife saught professional advice about her situation, if there were professional and protective services available to her that could have helped, and if these are issues that need to be addressed in our community for the sake of other women (or men) who are in similar situations and at risk of the same sorry fate!? As for the families of the victims, they are most likely at risk for emotional trauma that can really have serious consequences if left unresolved and if they aren't seeking professional therapy (which is not an indication of weakness either individually or in the family, it is a truly helpful and necessary method to ensure a complete healing process has begun and will continue - depending too if you get a good therapist) I strongly recommend considering this option. I, a social work student, has even sought help for a family divorce that had been unresolved in my mind for 8 years...I can't imagine what something like this could do to the survivors. If you have any questions about family therapy, what to expect and what services you can get, I will be more than happy to ask my professors and get some inside information for anyone who wishes to look into it! In any case, my heart goes out to this family and I have been praying for all who have been affected by this, may you be comforted!
-one of your young college-student-community-memb ers.

[Local SW WMU student]

Oh, another important related issue of which we are learning in class about communities: Coleman's theory of community controversy states that after an initial single issue (in this case, a man known by the majority as a police officer killing his wife before committing suicide), there arise a community-wide conflict period that is caused by the suppressed issues of members in a community (such as resentment towards police officers or any safety officer, resentment towards men in general for being oppressive or abusive towards the women in communities, resentment towards women who "can push their husbands over the edge" and some husbands may feel, etc.). What I'm trying to say is that we need to keep an eye on our community for these kinds of conflicts that might show up, if they haven't already, between these related groups of people in our community. For an example of this kind of incidence occurring and what it might mean to a community, look at the article "Crown of Thorns" by Jonathan Rieder (The New Republic, October 14, 1991). Just voicing a community concern.
-one of your young college-student-community-memb ers

[an officers wife]

Local SW WMU student...
Thank you for wanting to help our community! You sound like a great person. Good luck in school and work after you graduate. I hope you can help some of the men and women who needs it and don't know where to go for it. Thank you!!
-an officers wife

[ashley]

that police officer was my cousin and u guys dont know any of the truth so all u shit talkers can keep ur mouths shut!!!!!!!!

[letshearyourside]

ashley wrote:

that police officer was my cousin and u guys dont know any of the truth so all u shit talkers can keep ur mouths shut!!!!!!!!

Ok, Ashley....why don't you enlighten us.
The wonderful man KILLED his wife then shot himself is not the truth? sooooooo tell us what REALLY happened.

[Repeater]

Ya know we go through these same posts ALL the time, same things written, same thoughts, same excuses, same "shut ups" Cops are good, cops are bad.Truth be, their both. Same indignations.
We could script this whole line of comments.
Lets cut to the chase, anyone want to go for a beer ?