POLICE REPORT OF ROGER BRAINARD'S STATEMENT TO THE POLICE, FOLLOWING PAM AUKERMAN'S MURDER

I have been sitting on this police report for several weeks now. But today [after a weekend of working on a media statement for MIOIDV for Lori DeKleine's family...and after two days of updating Lori's website and MIOIDV's website], I happened upon the "Kevin [Brainard] is a hero" website. GASP!

How in the heck can a murder be considered a hero...and for the Brainard family to flaunt this in front of the Aukerman family? Well, that is just beyond comprehension.

In their August 23rd post on Kevin is hero site, the Brainard family member attempted to explain that Kevin is a hero for what he did all the way up until he emptied three rounds into Pam. Hullo!? Excuse me? He's a frickin murderer. End of story.

But wait, the post went on to say that they wanted Pam's website to stop with the BS. Hullo??!! I am getting so darn tired of the Brainard family and supporters attacking Pam's family and friends, each time they dare to speak the truth.

One of the messages that Pam's family/friends have consistently attempted to get out is that Pam did not have to die...her murder could have been prevented. However, the Brainard's have been the first ones to attack this claim...stating time after time, that no one knew anything about Kevin's abuse of Pam, or that Pam was in any danger. And if memory serves me right, the Brainards' attack on the Aukerman's was quite vicious, each time the Aukermans maintained that the Brainards knew about Kevin's violence towards Pam.

PRIOR TO KEVIN MURDERING PAM, HE CALLED HIS FATHER [ROGER BRAINARD] AND TOLD HIM "IF THE POLICE CAME TO HIS HOUSE LATE THAT NIGHT THAT HE SHOULD NOT ANSWER THE DOOR, THAT SOMETHING BAD HAD HAPPENED."

AFTER RECEIVING THAT PHONE CALL FROM KEVIN, ON NOVEMBER 04, 2008, ROGER BRAINARD FAILED TO CALL THE POLICE. IN FACT, ROGER DID NOTHING. PAM AUKERMAN WAS MURDERED BY HER EX-HUSBAND, OFFICER KEVIN BRAINARD, SHORTLY AFTER KEVIN MADE THAT PHONE CALL AND SHORTLY AFTER SHE CAME HOME FROM WORK THAT EVENING.

IF ROGER HAD CALLED THE POLICE AND REPORTED KEVIN'S PHONE CALL, PAM MAY BE ALIVE TODAY.





POLICE REPORT OF ROGER BRAINARD'S PHONE CONVERSATION WITH HIS SON/OFFICER KEVIN BRAINARD, SHORTLY BEFORE PAM AUKERMAN WAS MURDERED, ON NOVEMBER 04, 2008.

Otsego Police Department Otsego, MI 49078
Complaint #1569-07
Reported by Chief Konkle Murder/Suicide

Complaint Date: 11/08/07

Supplemental Report
INFORMATION:
On 11/08/07 at approximately 12:45 pm I responded along with Officer Borgman to 707 Brookside Dr. on a Peace Officer call. When we arrived the family of Kevin Brainard was requesting an Officer to stand by while they removed items for the Brainard's baby that was staying with Kevin Brainard's parents.
While at the address I was contacted by Kevin Brainard's father Roger Brainard at approximately 1:30 pm. Mr. Brainard was asking me questions in regards to the funeral reference what the Fire Department's participation would be in the funeral. After talking with him for several minutes and consoling him on his son's death he stated to me that he wasn't going to lie, that his son Kevin had talked to him the evening before the suicide/homicide, that he had told his father that if the Police came to his house late that night that he should not answer the door that something bad had happened. He stated that he didn't think anything of it at the time other than they knew that they were having trouble. He stated that he didn't take it that Kevin was going to commit any crime or commit suicide. He stated it was just a comment that his son had made to him and that he felt he needed to make us aware of that. I thanked him for his honest and advised him that like himself I found it hard to believe that this occurred. I thanked him for his honesty and gave my condolences to his family.
End of report

The Start Of Something Great

[Originally posted March 2008]

We are here to help victims of Officer Involved Domestic Violence, when they are failed by law enforcement, Domestic Violence agencies, the community, the church and family members we will be here for them. Why are we fighting so hard you may ask, this kind of support was not around for Pam Aukerman or Lori DeKleine and we do not want another woman to die from neglect. I’ve heard it stated that there was nothing that could be done to save Pam so we need to stop talking about it. I beg to differ, that statement is unacceptable and deadly to another victim of Officer Involved Domestic Violence. Pam was not helped by Domestic Violence agencies because her abuser was a hometown hero that could never do anything like that, she was also let down by the Plainwell Police department that chose to ignore a tip that Kevin was in fact going to murder his wife. Kevin murdered Pam 48 hours after the Plainwell Police department was notified. Gloria Brainard [Officer Kevin Brainard's mother] begged Pam to stay just one more week, which ensured her death. If just one of these situations had been taken seriously the outcome would have been different.

If things are just accepted as there was nothing that could be done we are unable to save another person. How can we save lives so no family has to go through this kind of pain and suffering. I will not accept that nothing can be done it is now my mission in life to ensure that victims of Officer Involved Domestic Violence have a voice and are heard when their lives are in danger.

Action speaks louder than words. I am a person of action and will use this tragedy to help others. I have learned so much in the four months since Kevin murdered Pam and I am confident that we can make a change in how victims of Officer Involved Domestic Violence are viewed. They were both to blame is not an acceptable statement, all couples fight is not an acceptable statement. A woman who is physically, verbally, and emotionally abused and then murdered is no longer going to be blamed for her death. It was stated on this site that no one did anything to Pam except Kevin, that is not true, in her death she has been blamed for her own murder. That is the most destructive thing that could possibly be said about this bright shining star. She is re victimized everytime that statement is made. A woman is never to blame when she is murdered. Nothing on earth justifies murder, NOTHING.


We have started the Michigan Officer Involved Domestic Violence Corporation to save lives. I will not let these special victims fall through the cracks any longer. Pam Aukerman was a beautiful bright shining star that was taken away from us by a monster. We are using our new found knowledge to help others that are facing the same type of abuse Pam faced. This program can be duplicated in all fifty states to help woman all over the country who are victims of Officer Involved Domestic Violence, woman that are dismissed by the very people who are supposed to protect them. In one hundred years what we have started in 2008 will be around to help those without a voice. We are starting something that is bigger than the communities of Plainwell and Otsego. These areas can bury their heads in the sand like ostriches but we are moving forward with our fight for victims of Office Involved Domestic Violence.


We are starting another non profit foundation to ensure that Pam Aukerman’s legacy lives forever. It’s called the Pam Aukerman Legacy Foundation. Our purpose is to continue Pam’s work to help families in need. We will not let Pam die in vain. She will never be forgotten, nor will how she was brutally murdered be forgotten. If we allow her to be forgotten we are telling all victims of Officer Involved Domestic Violence that they aren’t important enough to be remembered for fought for. How sad it is that speaking about Pam being murdered is being viewed as disgusting. What is disgusting the fact that I will never be able to see her again, call her on the phone again, ask her a stupid question that only she knows the answer to. I miss her so much and will never let anyone forget this wonderful soul that was taken from us too soon.

I am challenging the Brainards and Wheelers once again, be part of the solution not part of the problem. You profess your love for Pam, help get her law passed so no other families have to endure that heartache.

Laura Spars