By James Tabafunda
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Joselito “Lito” Alvarez Barber
Getting together to remember someone keeps their presence and legacy alive. Family and friends met on Aug. 13 at the Filipino Community Center (FCC) to mark 20 years since Officer Joselito “Lito” Barber was killed in the line of duty, just six months into his law enforcement career.
More than 50 people attended the outdoor gathering at the FCC, including family, friends, FCC staff, Seattle Police Department (SPD) Interim Chief Andre Sayles, and several other SPD officers.
Barber died Aug. 13, 2006, after a speeding sport utility vehicle ran a red light and struck his patrol car while he was on routine patrol in the city’s Central District.
“Today we’re celebrating Lito Barber,” said Ryan Barber—Lito’s cousin and organizer of the event—at FCC’s granite memorial. “The memorial behind me was established last year on his birthday. And today marks the 20-year anniversary of his end-of-watch.”
Attendees share memories of Lito Barber with each other
As people arrived at the event, many of Barber’s family members greeted them with a smile or handshake that was usually followed by a personal story about Lito. The event began as casual conversations among small groups of people, not as a formal program with a planned agenda.
People begin arriving at SPD Officer Joselito “Lito” Barber’s granite memorial at the Filipino Community Center on Aug. 13, 2026. (Photo by James Tabafunda)
“The purpose of us doing this is just to remember him, try not to remember the tragedy that happened in the accident. But just remembering the life that he lived and the service that he gave to this community,” said Ryan, design director at KIRO-TV.
“He grew up in Seattle. This was his home, and he wanted to help this community, so that’s why we want to continue remembering his life and remember the person that he is, not just the uniform he wore, but the person he was and what he meant to us as a family.”
Officer Barber’s hometown and what law enforcement means
Barber was born on June 26, 1980, in Renton, raised in Seattle, attended St. Paul School, O’Dea High School, and Bellevue Community College before transferring to the University of Washington (UW), where he graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, and society. He worked for three years as a loss-prevention officer at a Home Depot in Seattle, investigating fraudulent checks and credit cards, before joining the SPD in June 2005 and completing the state Law Enforcement Academy.
Family members described his becoming a police officer as the fulfillment of one of his life goals.
“He was only 26 when this happened,” Ryan said. “He knew the dangers behind [being a police officer]. He also knew the benefits of helping the community that he grew up in.”
Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across Washington state attended Lito’s funeral on Aug. 21, 2006, at the UW’s Hec Edmundson Pavilion, the Associated Press reported. Lito was buried in his uniform and his favorite Michael Jordan-model Nike sneakers. Then-Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske told mourners, “We are so saddened we didn’t benefit over the years from his energy, talent, and devotion he would have brought to us.”
Memorial dedicated last year on Officer Barber’s birthday
The granite memorial standing outside the FCC was dedicated last year on June 26—Lito’s birthday—following a fundraising campaign led by the Seattle Police Foundation. The stone is inscribed with his badge number, 6897. His name is also etched into the limestone of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
SPD Officer Joselito “Lito” Barber’s granite memorial (Photo by James Tabafunda)
Organizers chose the FCC because of the site’s cultural significance to Lito’s family and its public accessibility, according to the Seattle Police Foundation. Ryan said the center held personal meaning for the family long before it became a memorial site.
Lito Barber’s family. (From left:) Sister Emily Rio Barber, stepmother Mitz Barber, father Ernie Barber, and brother Jon Barber (Photo by James Tabafunda)
Colleague recalls friendship formed at academy
Ryan addressed the crowd, saying, “I know this came about really fast. But every year, we always talk about things that we’ve missed about him,” he said. “But being out here with his monument in front of the community center … We’ve celebrated a lot of family events (here). It’s very important.”
“Out here on the public street, it’s appropriate because he was out here on the street serving the public.”
Ryan introduced SPD Assistant Chief Robert Brown, who commands the department’s Patrol Operations Bureau. Brown was promoted to assistant chief in May 2026 after being assigned to lead patrol operations in August 2025.
Ryan Barber, Lito Barber’s cousin (left); and SPD Assistant Chief Robert Brown (Photo by James Tabafunda)
He said, “Joe Mahar and Joselito Barber would always come to coffee at the same place. It was a coffee shop. It was in the North precinct, Union sector, University District. We’d always meet up every day.”
Brown said he got to know Lito during his first month with the SPD. He said, “And he was always a delight. He just brought joy to your heart to be around him, the type of person that he is.”
“I miss Lito Barber,” Brown told the crowd, recalling how he first met Lito through fellow trainee Dale Davenport during Lito’s early months on the force. “I always remember Lito’s smile. I always remember him eating the maple bars. He loved those.”
Brown said he received a call informing him of Lito’s death on the morning of the crash. “I remember getting the call from Dale Davenport, and I remember his first words were that Lito was dead. I couldn’t wrap my head around it,” he said.
Childhood friends share memories of video games, manners
Two childhood friends of Lito, David Roni and Alex Kalaw, both of Seattle, shared memories from their years as classmates in an interview.
Alex Kalaw, Lito Barber’s childhood friend (Photo by James Tabafunda)
Kalaw said he had known Barber since the first grade and recalled sleepovers at Lito’s house. “I spent the night with him at his house many times over the years,” he said. “I remember one of the nights we were playing Mortal Kombat on the Sega Genesis for hours and just hanging out. He was one of my oldest friends.”
David Roni, Lito Barber’s childhood friend (Photo by James Tabafunda)
Roni said Lito had long been held up as an example in his own household. “My mom would always say, ‘Why can’t you be more like Lito? He’s so polite, he gets good grades,’” he said. Roni also recalled running into Lito shortly before his death and learning he had become a police officer. Roni said to Lito, “‘Wow, look how big you are.’ And he said, ‘I have to be big because I’m a police officer now and people want to fight me.’”
Scholarship fund continues in Lito Barber’s name
Ryan said fundraising continues for a scholarship established in his cousin’s name, one that benefits students at O’Dea High School, Lito Barber’s alma mater from 1994 to his graduation with the Class of 1998.
“It’s heartfelt knowing that he’s still being remembered,” he said. “And we just truly want to keep remembering him for what he’s done and who he is as a person.”
Roni said about the gathering, “I’m really happy that there’s an event like this today where people remember him because you carry a piece of somebody with you … And so, his memory really lives on.”
For more information on the Joselito Barber ’98 Scholarship, go to www.odea.org/support-odea/endowments.
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