James Edwin Hassinger

June 15, 1937 - August 19, 2022

James E. Hassinger passed away in Bellevue, WA on August 19, 2022

Jim was born in Mansfield, Ohio on June 15, 1937. He was adopted and raised by his aunt & uncle, William & Cecilia Hassinger.

Jim graduated from St. Peters High School in 1955.

In 1959, Jim joined the US Army. He was stationed in Germany and later stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA where he became a military police officer. Jim was honorably discharged in 1965.

In 1965, Jim joined the Bellevue Police Department as a traffic officer. He became a motor officer and worked tirelessly to improve the motor officer unit of the traffic division.

In 1970, Jim took a year off from law enforcement to become a real estate agent but returned to the department after just one year, continuing his job as a motor officer for the Bellevue Police Department.

In 1982, Jim attended the California Highway Patrol (CHIPS) motorcycle training school. Following that training, he spearheaded the creation of a motor officers certification course for the Bellevue Police Department and many other police departments in the State of Washington. He was also a member of the Bellevue SWAT team. He retired from the Bellevue Police Department in 1989.

During his time with the department, Jim also attended Bellevue Community College where he received an associate degree and continued to Seattle University where in 1981, he received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice & police science.

Jim eventually took a job as a security officer for King County and worked at the courthouse in downtown Seattle until he retired in 2017.

He was a member of the Goldwing Touring Association and rode as a member of their drill team.

He was one of the founding members of the North American Motor Officers Association. The association now gives out a yearly trophy in his name (The Gramps Award), for riding skills.

He was a longtime member of the NW chapter of the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, attending his last event in May of 2022.

Jim's main interests were motorcycles primarily, but he also enjoyed fishing, golf, Elvis & country music, a good cigar and a fine scotch with friends. He loved his family, neighbors and his law enforcement friends. He was a longtime parishioner at St. Louise Catholic Church.

Jim married Silvia Heibertshausen in 1959. They had one daughter, Monica. Silvia passed away in 1984.

Jim married Rebecca R. Johnson in 1986. They were happily married until her passing in 2016.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Monica Pincombe, husband John and her son, Adam Dreke. Stepson John Pickering and his children Faith and Dillon. Stepdaughter Tammy Rodgers and her sons, Justin and Brandon. Stepdaughter Nicole Tsao, husband Bill and their children Adrianna and Dominic.

Services will be at St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, WA on Wednesday, August 31 at 11:00, followed by the burial and reception at Sunset Hills Funeral Home in Bellevue, WA.

Jim supported numerous charities. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your favorite local charity in Jim's honor.