Lane Judson, with his wife Patty, came to Albany New York to be our honored Keynote Speaker during our 2nd Annual Liza's Legacy Gala - "Remembering Liza" - and were presented with our first Liza's Legacy of Hope Award. Their daughter, Crystal, was shot and killed by her estranged husband, Tacoma Washington's Police Chief David Brame after her fears and reports were repeatedly disregarded. After shooting her he then turned the gun on himself, with their two young children running to the tragic scene taking place in a public parking lot. The 911 calls capture the screaming of the children begging someone to help their mother. Since her murder in 2003 Lane has been working to educate others about the dynamics of domestic violence, and to spur policy changes for law enforcement agencies. With impressive support, the Judsons achieved passage of federal legislation in their daughter's name, earmarking Department of Justice VAWA grant funds for officer-involved domestic violence. Because of the work of the Judsons and many others Washington State law now mandates that each police agency have a specific officer-involved domestic violence policy.

Golf Tournament

to Support Scholarship Endowment Fund

Crystal Challenge Golf Tournament 2007

Around the Water Cooler

Publication for City of Tacoma employees

For the week of August 7, 2006

Members of the 2006 Crystal Judson Brame Memorial Scholarship board are working to establish an endowment that would award annual scholarships to deserving students at Mount Tahoma High School, the alma matter of Crystal Judson Brame. The first memorial scholarship will go to recent graduate Erika Redzinak. Proceeds from the upcoming Crystal Challenge Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 16 will help the group achieve its goal. To register for the tournament or find out more about the scholarship, visit the group's Web site.

Family's tragedy inspires program

The Daily Herald

July 19, 2006

Hear Lane Judson speak about his family's domestic violence tragedy at 10 a.m. Thursday at Naval Air Station [on] Whidbey Island. From Highway 20 in Oak Harbor, turn onto Ault Field Road and go to the Charles Porter Avenue Gate for entry instructions. Judson is the father of the late Crystal Brame, who was shot in her car by her husband, Tacoma Police Chief David Brame, on April 26, 2003. He then turned the gun on himself. Crystal Brame died May 3, 2003, in Harborview Medical Center, leaving two young children. Lane and Patty Judson, Crystal Brame's parents, are speaking out against domestic violence. (Source)

..."From what I hear, it's a very good program"...

Parents of Crystal Brame to speak in SK

Port Orchard Independent

By Justine Frederiksen

June 09 2007

Domestic violence can happen anywhere at any time, but few incidences in recent memory were as public or shocking as the murder of Crystal Judson-Brame, killed four years ago by her husband, Tacoma Police Chief David Brame in Gig Harbor. Since their daughter's death, Lane and Patty Judson have tried to bring her side of the story to the public, creating a presentation they have brought to local military bases, churches and other gatherings. "From what I hear, it's a very good program, "  said DeLona Kent, treasurer of Port Orchard's chapter of Business and Professional Women, International (BPW), explaining that the Judsons will present "Domestic Violence: Past, Present and Future," a talk and slide show that focuses on their daughter's life, along with her ultimately fatal experience with domestic violence... Source

...“Let me reassure you that

domestic violence is not a private matter..."

VICTIM’S FATHER SPEAKS OUT

By Terese Toennies

The Northwest Navigator

Friday, August 4, 2006

On May 3, 2003, doctors disconnected the machines that were keeping 35-year-old Crystal Judson alive. A week before, she had been shot by her estranged husband, Tacoma Police Chief David Brame, in a Rite-Aid parking lot. Brame then shot himself. Their two children, Haley, 8 and David Jr., 5, witnessed the murder-suicide. Lane and Patty Judson couldn’t save their daughter; she had no brain activity and no chance for survival. They didn’t say goodbye, instead, they promised Crystal they would see her down the road. Knowing the end result of Brame’s years of abuse, what could Lane and Patty have done differently? Lane Judson spoke at the Skywarrior Theater on July 20 to talk about the signs that, in hindsight, forecasted a brutal end to the marriage. A large part of the problem is that Lane and Patty, and no one else in Crystal’s life, for that matter, knew the extent of Crystal’s suffering and the fate for which she was destined. Family members and loved ones are not allowed in to the victim’s world. The abuser builds a wall of silence around them, strictly controlling who is let in, and in turn, what information about their relationship is let out. “We should have been more aware of the warning signs—the controlling, verbal and mental abuse,” Judson answered when asked what he would have done differently... David’s position as Tacoma’s Chief of Police compounded the silence. Not only did he have complete control over his wife; he had control over all of the major political players in the city... “Let me reassure you that domestic violence is not a private matter, and it is a most terrible crime that can and will lead to death if not acted upon quickly and with the right types of professional help. Domestic violence is a crime and needs to be reported if you see it or hear of it”... (Source)