Public Safety officer involved in apparent murder suicide

PLAINWELL (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Police tell us Kevin Brainard, a Plainwell Public Safety officer and volunteer fire-fighter, killed his wife Pam and then ended his own life.

It was around ten Sunday night when police were called to the home. It was one of Kevin Brainard's family members who reported a problem.

When investigators made their way inside, they found Pam and Kevin.

People that knew the couple tell us they'd been married for a little over a year. Neighbors on Brookside tell us they had never heard arguing and never had known anything was wrong.

Police found Pam Brainard dead at the couple's Otsego home. They also found Kevin Brainard. He'd been shot, and later died at the emergency room. Investigators are trying to determine what happened in their home that lead to this fatal conclusion.

There is mixed reaction in Allegan County. For many it is the surprise of a lifetime. A mother and father, husband and wife, public safety officer and registered nurse, torn from a small town.

Kevin Brainard, the man police say killed his wife then turned the gun on himself. But why? Why would a man who swore to protect citizens, emotionally cave to murder and suicide?

"You'd never expect this from him or his family and you don't expect this in a town like this,” said Chief Gordan Konkle of the Otsego Police Department.

"He was very verbally abusive and controlling," said one of Pam's best friends. She thinks Kevin snapped. She asked to remain anonymous, painting one nasty picture of her friend's husband. Someone she says Pam threatened to leave last week.

"She couldn't feel comfortable going to the cops because they believed he's one of their own and they were gonna take his side,” said the friend.

But her description of a domestic danger doesn't match the public's perception of Officer Brainard. There is not a single blemish on his career as a public safety officer or volunteer firefighter.

"You'd expect this is a safe place but it just goes to show tragedies like this happen, domestic violence and other issues that come up,” said Chief Konkle.

Chief Konkle worked with Kevin for a number of years as he was a volunteer firefighter in his department. He calls this case very personal and very sensitive for that reason.

Autopsies are being performed in Lansing Monday. Police continue to investigate the shootings.

If you have information that can help police call them at 269-692-6111.