By Sheila Corson
Chronicle staff

     OKANOGAN - "They just passed Malott!"
     "They're in Okanogan!"
     A man with a police scanner updated the shivering crowd along Elmway in Okanogan this afternoon, Dec. 29. Folks struggled to keep their candles from blowing out in the 27-degree weather.
     Finally, through the gloomy gray skies, in the distance, the crowd of a few dozen could see the red and blue lights pulsing.
     Parker Brown’s body was nearly home.
     Along the five-hour drive from Seattle to Okanogan, the Brown family was constantly reminded of the brotherhood among police officers and the love of communities.
     The Browns took the body of their youngest son, Parker, 8, home Dec. 29, but they were not alone in the procession. Father and mother Josh and Sarah and brothers Dylon and Dakota were joined by multiple law enforcement agencies and other emergency responders along the way.
     When they arrived at Precht-Harrison Nearents Chapel, Okanogan, dozens of friends were waiting with candles lit to greet them.
     Sheriff Frank Rogers said the procession was a testimony to the brotherhood among law enforcement. Josh Brown is a deputy with the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office.
     Members of the county sheriff's office headed over Monday in four squad cars to help the family pack up for the trip.
     Around 10 a.m. today, the Browns left Seattle with Seattle Police Department motorcycles escorting them. At the King County border, the Seattle police stood down and the Washington State Patrol joined in.
     Rogers said over Snoqualmie Pass, more troopers joined in. At one point, some even joined the procession in the air.
     Along the way, some folks stood by the roadside, holding signs in honor of Parker, Rogers said.
     In every jurisdiction they passed through, another agency joined the procession, most until the border of their area, Rogers said. Chelan County, Douglas County, Wenatchee Police Department - all joined for some of the ride.
     The procession grew to at least 30 squad cars, although Rogers said it was hard to tell the total number because so many would leave and others join.
     Rogers said he sent out a notice to all the agencies, letting them know they would be coming through and inviting them to join if they chose. All the same, he was surprised by how many took him up on the invitation.
     In Okanogan County, the U.S. Border Patrol, Colville Tribal Police, LifeLine Ambulance, Omak Fire and Police, Okanogan Fire, Tonasket Fire and Police and more joined the caravan.
     Josh said the ride was incredible.
     Monica Rawson, Malott, said she heard about the procession coming in and posted an invitation on Facebook for people to show up at the chapel to welcome the Browns home. She said it snowballed from there.
     The group became a "candlelight welcome," Rawson said.
     Once Parker was set in the chapel, the Browns went home for the first time without him. Sarah said it was the moment she was hoping to avoid, knowing that the reality of his passing would really set in.
     Parker's memorial service is at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2 at the Omak High School gymnasium. He died Dec. 20 after a 6-year battle with leukemia.