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Author Topic: 4 police officers killed in Wash. state Shootings happened at coffee shop south  (Read 19385 times)
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« on: November 29, 2009, 01:09:47 PM »

BREAKING NEWS
msnbc.com news services
updated 1:03 p.m. ET, Sun., Nov . 29, 2009
PARKLAND, Wash. - Four police officers were shot and killed Sunday morning as they sat in a coffee shop Sunday morning in Pierce County, sheriff's officials said.

The officers were in the coffee shop in the Lakewood area with their laptop computers when one or two gunmen walked in and opened fire, Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

"This was a targeted, selected ambush," Troyer said, adding that customers and baristas were in the shop at the time but no one else was injured.

Authorities were searching for the gunmen, and nearby McChord Air Force Base was put on alert.

The officers were about to start their day shift when the ambush occurred.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34194122/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
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« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2009, 01:13:15 PM »

Multiple officers reportedly shot in Parkland WA

; THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 11/29/09   9:41 am   |   Updated: 11/29/09  10:07 am
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PARKLAND, Wash. –
Multiple police officers have reportedly been shot near McChord Air Force Base.

KING-TV says four officers were shot but has no update on their conditions. Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer tells KOMO-TV that the officers were hit near 116th Street and Steele Street on the east side of the Air Force base at about 8:30 a.m.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports that the officers were shot at Forza Coffee.


http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/973580.html
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Jesus loves the little children, all the children in the world.
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« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2009, 01:15:47 PM »



PARKLAND, Wash. - Four police officers were shot and killed in a Sunday morning ambush at a Parkland-area coffee shop, officials said.

Emergency personnel rushed to the scene after receiving a report that multiple officers were shot and killed in the ambush at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, according to reports from the scene.

Pierce County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ed Troyer called the ambush "a targeted attack."

KOMO News Radio reported from the scene that a lone gunman burst into the coffee shop, shot the four officers as they were working on their computers, then fled the scene.

No one else was hurt.

Witnesses said the shootings took place at or near the Forza Coffee Co. outlet at 11401 Steele St. South, just northeast of McChord Air Force Base.

One witness who was driving past said he saw an officer on the ground just after the shootings.

Authorities later closed off the air space over the scene of the shootings.


http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78088192.html
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« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2009, 06:22:46 PM »

The cold-blooded killings of four Lakewood police officers in a Sunday morning ambush left Western Washington in shock, less than a month after the brutal killing of a Seattle police officer.

And it brought home once again the fact that law enforcement personnel put their lives on the line every time they put on a uniform and report for duty, local leaders said.

"I am shocked and horrified at the murder of four police officers this morning in Pierce County," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. "Our police put their lives on the line every day, and tragedies like this remind us of the risks they continually take to keep our communities safe."

"My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of these officers, as well as the entire law enforcement community," she said.

Brian D. Wurts, president of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild that represents the fallen officers, could hardly contain his anger and grief as he responded to the tragedy.

Calling the shootings "a cold-blooded assassination" by "a complete coward and threat upon all of society," he said the shootings had left him numb.

"We were dealt a nasty blow; good men and women I have had the honor of knowing for years are senselessly gone," he said. "There is no way to comprehend it, to validate it, or to make sense of any of it. You cannot understand evil like this, as a community we must form a solid bond against criminals and hold them accountable."

He pleaded with the community to remember the fallen officers' families with their prayers and donations.

Pierce County Sheriff Paul A. Pastor called the shootings an attack on the entire community.

"This is an example of the danger faced by men and women in uniform every day," Pastor said. "The people or person who did this harmed not only these officers, but harmed the work we do every day in the community."

State Attorney General Rob McKenna said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the police officers murdered today in Lakewood. This outrageous act of violence against our brave protectors is a direct assault on the safety of our entire community."

An impromptu memorial is taking shape near the scene of the shootings, and is growing as more people add flowers and notes of kindness.

The scene of the slayings, a Forza Co. coffee shop near Lakewood, is owned by Brad Carpenter, a retired police officer.

"As a retired police officer, this senseless shooting hits extremely close to home to me," Carpenter said. "These officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, and this crime cuts deep into the heart of the entire Forza family."

Rich Jennings, who owns the Forza Coffee Co. chain, said immediate action will be taken to establish a donation area at each Forza coffee house for the benefit of the families of the officers who lost their lives.

"Our prayers go out to the family and friends of these officers in the face of this horrific tragedy," Jennings said.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78095462.html
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Jesus loves the little children, all the children in the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

 Words: C. Her­bert Wool­ston (1856-1927)  Music: George F. Root (1820-1895)
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« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2009, 06:27:17 PM »

Four Lakewood police officers shot and killed in 'ambush'

Posted on November 29, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Updated today at 3:22 PM
Related:
Briefing by Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer
Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor statement
Pierce Co. Emergency Information - officer shooting
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4 officers killed in Parkland, WA
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PARKLAND, Wash. - Four Lakewood Police officers were shot and killed Sunday morning in what authorities called a targeted ambush at a coffee shop.
Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says the officers - three male and one female - were in full uniform and wearing bulletproof vests, sitting in Forza coffee shop near 116th Street and Steele Street on the east side of the Air Force base at about 8:30 a.m.
Troyer says the officers were preparing for their shift when a suspect or suspects "walked in with a handgun, opened fire multiple times and then fled the scene," said Troyer.
Troyer called it an "ambush."
"They had marked police cars, marked uniforms, there were other people inside the facility, they weren't shot, wounded or hurt or even aimed at, just the police officers were," said Troyer.
It wasn't clear whether the officers even had time to draw their weapons to return fire, Troyer said.
"This was more of an execution. Walk in with the specific mindset to shoot police officers," Troyer said.
With no known suspects, there was no indication of any connection with the Halloween night shooting of a Seattle police officer. The suspect in that shooting remains hospitalized.
"We won't know if it's a copycat effect or what it was until we get the case solved," Troyer said. "We don't even have a suspect ID right now."
Troyer would not release the names of the victims in Sunday's shooting. He said Lakewood has a small police force and the deaths represent a loss of 10 percent to 15 percent of the department.
Troyer estimates a couple hundred officers from the Washington State Patrol and multiple surrounding police agencies in the area are at the scene, with some coming on their own time.
"We have no motive at all," Troyer said. "I don't think when we find out what it is, it will be anything that makes any sense or be worth it."
Two employees and a few other customers were in the shop during the attack. All are being interviewed by the Pierce County Sheriff's investigators.
"Some are in shock. They are very upset," Troyer said. "They are the ones who are going to put together for us how this happened."
The Forza Coffee Shop, part of a popular local chain, is in a small retail center alongside two restaurants, a cigar store and a nail salon.
Brad Carpenter, founder and owner of Forza Coffee, said his staff was OK and being interviewed by police, and that his main concern was with the families of the police officers.
"I'm a retired police officer, so this really hits close to home for me," he said.
Forza Coffee issued a press release, saying their "prayers go out to the family and friends of these officers in the face of this horrific tragedy."
"The cold-blooded ambush that took place at the Steele Street Forza Coffee House in Parkland," the release said.
Forza said a donation area will be established at each coffee house.
"It is Forza's goal to help the families of those who lost their lives during this difficult holiday season, and into the new year as they struggle to reconstruct their lives in the year ahead," said Rich Jennings, Forza owner.
Roads are blocked around the scene. Dave Gabrielson, a clerk at Foot Mart about a block away from the coffee shop, told the News Tribune that all was quiet when he opened the store at 8 a.m.
About 30 minutes later, "All of a sudden a million cops were zooming up and down the road," he said.
Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor said "this is an example of the danger that police officers and deputy sheriffs and state troopers face every day."
"The person or people who did this not only harmed us they harmed the good that we can do in the community. They harmed the good that we work to do every day in the community," he said.
"This is an example of the cost that is sometimes paid by people who believe in duty and obligation and sacrifice and people who do that on behalf of the community."
"We've lost people that we care about, we've lost people I'm sure the good people in the community care about as well," said Pastor.
Troyer said there were several active scenes that officers were working. A white pick-up truck was impounded from a parking lot at one scene and a person was taken into custody at another.
He said they are looking to see if there is any surveillance cameras that may have caught the suspect on video.
Troyer said the suspect is a black male, 5-foot-7 to 6 feet tall, 20s to 30s, scruffy appearance, wearing a black coat with a gray sweatshirt underneath, and blue jeans.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information. Tiplines - for tips only  - are  (253) 591-5959 or 866-977-2362.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said she was "shocked and horrified" by the killings.
"Our police put their lives on the line every day, and tragedies like this remind us of the risks they continually take to keep our communities safe," she said in a written statement. "My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of these officers, as well as the entire law enforcement community."
The President of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, Brian D. Wurts, issued a statement, calling the murders a "cold blooded assassination."
"As I write this I am numb. We were dealt a nasty blow, good men and women I have had the honor of knowing for years are senselessly gone. There is no way to comprehend it, to validate it, or to make sense of any of it. You cannot understand evil like this, as a community we must form a solid bond against criminals and hold them accountable. I know my members and can say with certainty that as a group we will remain professional and will continue to work to protect those of you we have taken an oath to protect. If you know a cop tell them how much you appreciate them, it truly keeps us going. Please pray for these officers and their families. All of them had significant others and children who are left behind," he said.
Wurts said  a benevolent account has been established for the families of the officers.
Send donations to LPIG Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579 Lakewood, WA 98499.
"I will personally make sure it goes where it is intended. May God bless you four who are in a place so much better than this; you are some of the finest professionals I have ever known. God bless our community today," Wurtz said.
Prayer vigil
A prayer vigil for the officers and their families will be held tonight at 6 p.m. at Tacoma Champions Centre at 1819 E. 72nd St. in Tacoma.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Police-officers-shot-78089882.html
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Jesus loves the little children, all the children in the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

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« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2009, 07:03:32 PM »

Suspect in police shootings may have been shot himself

by KING5.com and Associated Press
Posted on November 29, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Updated today at 3:55 PM
Related:
Briefing by Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer
Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor statement
Pierce Co. Emergency Information - officer shooting
Gallery
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4 officers killed in Parkland, WA
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PARKLAND, Wash. - Investigators say the gunmen who shot and killed four Lakewood police officers inside a coffee shop may have been shot himself.
Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said at a press conference Sunday afternoon that there was a struggle inside the coffee shop, and there is evidence that the suspect may have been hurt.
"We believe after some of the officers were shot, one of them managed to fight his way with the suspect .. fight all the way out the doorway until he was shot and died of a gunshot wound," said Troyer.
"There is evidence that a Lakewood Police officer fired off some shots, and we hope that he hit him," said Troyer. "If he's hit, that means that he's injured somewhere with a gunshot wound."
Troyer said local hospitals have been contacted in case the suspect seeks medical attention.
"He's going to have to get that taken care of sometime, someplace and when that occurs we want to know where that person's at," said Troyer.
Troyer said the person may travel a distance and go to a hospital or medical center and claim that he accidentally shot himself.
"What we need is if somebody knows somebody who has a gunshot wound or has a fresh injury and is described as a black male between 25 and 35, rough face and hair, wearing a black coat, jeans, and has an injury, we want to know who that is," said Troyer.
The officers - three male and one female - were in full uniform and wearing bulletproof vests, sitting in Forza coffee shop near 116th Street and Steele Street on the east side of the Air Force base at about 8:30 a.m.
Troyer says the officers were preparing for their shift when a suspect or suspects "walked in with a handgun, opened fire multiple times and then fled the scene," said Troyer.
Troyer called it an "ambush."
"They had marked police cars, marked uniforms, there were other people inside the facility, they weren't shot, wounded or hurt or even aimed at, just the police officers were," said Troyer.
It wasn't clear whether the officers even had time to draw their weapons to return fire, Troyer said.
"This was more of an execution. Walk in with the specific mindset to shoot police officers," Troyer said.
With no known suspects, there was no indication of any connection with the Halloween night shooting of a Seattle police officer. The suspect in that shooting remains hospitalized.
"We won't know if it's a copycat effect or what it was until we get the case solved," Troyer said. "We don't even have a suspect ID right now."
Troyer would not release the names of the victims in Sunday's shooting. He said Lakewood has a small police force and the deaths represent a loss of 10 percent to 15 percent of the department.
Troyer estimates a couple hundred officers from the Washington State Patrol and multiple surrounding police agencies in the area are at the scene, with some coming on their own time.
"We have no motive at all," Troyer said. "I don't think when we find out what it is, it will be anything that makes any sense or be worth it."
Two employees and a few other customers were in the shop during the attack. All are being interviewed by the Pierce County Sheriff's investigators.
"Some are in shock. They are very upset," Troyer said. "They are the ones who are going to put together for us how this happened."
The Forza Coffee Shop, part of a popular local chain, is in a small retail center alongside two restaurants, a cigar store and a nail salon.
Brad Carpenter, founder and owner of Forza Coffee, said his staff was OK and being interviewed by police, and that his main concern was with the families of the police officers.
"I'm a retired police officer, so this really hits close to home for me," he said.
Forza Coffee issued a press release, saying their "prayers go out to the family and friends of these officers in the face of this horrific tragedy."
"The cold-blooded ambush that took place at the Steele Street Forza Coffee House in Parkland," the release said.
Forza said a donation area will be established at each coffee house.
"It is Forza's goal to help the families of those who lost their lives during this difficult holiday season, and into the new year as they struggle to reconstruct their lives in the year ahead," said Rich Jennings, Forza owner.
Roads are blocked around the scene. Dave Gabrielson, a clerk at Foot Mart about a block away from the coffee shop, told the News Tribune that all was quiet when he opened the store at 8 a.m.
About 30 minutes later, "All of a sudden a million cops were zooming up and down the road," he said.
Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor said "this is an example of the danger that police officers and deputy sheriffs and state troopers face every day."
"The person or people who did this not only harmed us they harmed the good that we can do in the community. They harmed the good that we work to do every day in the community," he said.
"This is an example of the cost that is sometimes paid by people who believe in duty and obligation and sacrifice and people who do that on behalf of the community."
"We've lost people that we care about, we've lost people I'm sure the good people in the community care about as well," said Pastor.
Troyer said there were several active scenes that officers were working. A white pick-up truck was impounded from a parking lot at one scene and a person was taken into custody at another.
He said they are looking to see if there is any surveillance cameras that may have caught the suspect on video.
Troyer said the suspect is a black male, 5-foot-7 to 6 feet tall, 20s to 30s, scruffy appearance, wearing a black coat with a gray sweatshirt underneath, and blue jeans.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information. Tiplines - for tips only  - are  (253) 591-5959 or 866-977-2362.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said she was "shocked and horrified" by the killings.
"Our police put their lives on the line every day, and tragedies like this remind us of the risks they continually take to keep our communities safe," she said in a written statement. "My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of these officers, as well as the entire law enforcement community."
The President of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, Brian D. Wurts, issued a statement, calling the murders a "cold blooded assassination."
"As I write this I am numb. We were dealt a nasty blow, good men and women I have had the honor of knowing for years are senselessly gone. There is no way to comprehend it, to validate it, or to make sense of any of it. You cannot understand evil like this, as a community we must form a solid bond against criminals and hold them accountable. I know my members and can say with certainty that as a group we will remain professional and will continue to work to protect those of you we have taken an oath to protect. If you know a cop tell them how much you appreciate them, it truly keeps us going. Please pray for these officers and their families. All of them had significant others and children who are left behind," he said.
Wurts said  a benevolent account has been established for the families of the officers.
Send donations to LPIG Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579 Lakewood, WA 98499.


http://www.king5.com/news/local/Police-officers-shot-78089882.html
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« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2009, 07:19:22 PM »

Thanks Fanny for starting this thread.
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« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2009, 07:41:52 PM »

Thanks Fanny for starting this thread.
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Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

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« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2009, 08:44:47 PM »

Slain officers were part of original Lakewood force

LAKEWOOD, Wash. - The four officers who were shot and killed at a Lakewood coffee shop Sunday morning were all members of the original Lakewood police force, said Lakewood Mayor Douglas Richardson.

"The slain officers were all part of Lakewood’s initial police department start-up five years ago," Richardson and City Manager Andrew Neiditz said in a statement.

The four - one female officer and three male officers - have not yet been identified.

"Once we have fully notified extended family members, we will release the identities of the slain officers. We are nearly done with that critical process," the officials' statement said.

Richardson and Neiditz said all four transferred to Lakewood as commissioned law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions when the police force was formed.

"Their dedication and selfless service contributed immensely toward the successful creation of the Lakewood Police Department," the statement said.

"Today we have four fewer officers from our force of one hundred commissioned officers. They will be sorely missed. Support from other law enforcement agencies has been very responsive and deeply appreciated."

The four officers were shot and killed as they were preparing for their shifts at the Forza Coffee Co. shop at 11401 Steele St. South.

A lone gunman shot the four uniformed officers as they were working on their laptop computers, then fled the scene.

Richardson and Neiditz called it the "most tragic event in Lakewood’s fourteen years as a city."

"We lost four of our finest in a shocking, heartbreaking, and senseless murder. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with the families and colleagues of these innocent victims during this extraordinarily difficult time."

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78101617.html
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« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2009, 08:52:09 PM »

Ex-con wanted for questioning in Lakewood police slayings

A 37-year-old Tacoma man, Maurice Clemmons, is being sought for questioning in the execution-style shooting of four Lakewood police officers this morning, according to two law-enforcement sources.



Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person involved in this morning's fatal shooting, described as a black man who is between 5-feet-7-inches and 5-feet-10-inches tall, and wearing a black coat and blue jeans in the Lakewood, Wash. area. Anybody with information is asked to call 253-591-5959 or 866-977-2362.

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A 37-year-old Tacoma man, Maurice Clemmons, is being sought for questioning in the execution-style shooting of four Lakewood police officers this morning, according to two law-enforcement sources.

Clemmons, who was recently released from jail, has an extensive criminal record in Pierce County and Arkansas, court records show. Clemmons is wanted in Arkansas and faces eight criminal charges in Washington state.

The four officers were killed at about 8:15 a.m. by a scruffy-looking man who walked into a coffee shop and opened fire. The officers — three men and one woman — were found dead by deputies who arrived at Forza Coffee at 11401 Steele St. S., said Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer.

Troyer said the investigation into the shootings indicate that the gunman "flat-out executed" two of the officers. One officer then stood up, tried to go for the gunman and was shot, Troyer said.

The fourth officer was involved in some kind of struggle with the gunman.

"What happened in there wasn't just a shooting. One of the officers managed to fight his way with the suspect, wrestled him out the door when he was shot and killed," Troyer said.

Before that fourth officer was killed, Troyer said, he apparently managed to fire at the shooter.

Troyer said if the gunman was shot, he could be traveling some distance to get care. Troyer suggested the man may try to visit a medical facility and claim he had suffered an accidental gunshot wound.

The officers who were shot made up one patrol unit, including a sergeant. Their families have been notified, but their identities have not been released.

"It's carnage out front everywhere," Troyer said, describing the front of the coffee shop. "It's like a bad horror movie, it's horrible."

The officers were in uniform, including bulletproof vests, and were working on their laptop computers as they prepared to start their day shifts, Troyer said.

"This was a targeted, selective ambush," Troyer said.


 
Troyer said there may have been a driver who helped the suspect get away, and police had a description of the possible driver.

The gunman was described as a black man in his 20s or 30s, between 5-feet-7 inches and 5-feet-10-inches, and ran north on Steele Street South after the shooting. He was wearing a black coat over a gray hooded sweat shirt and bluejeans, Troyer said.

Police took a man into custody at a Parkland house nearby after he apparently called 911, claiming to be the shooter. But the man was not linked to the crime, Troyer said.

Dozens of officers were searching the area near the coffee shop, including the parking lot of Evergreen Self Storage. Troyer, carrying an assault rifle, told members of the media, "this is kind of a hot area, so you're kind of on your own."

He urged the reporters not to roam off and assigned three officers to stand near the media.

At least a dozen officers also have surrounded another nearby house. Three cars were parked in the driveway but there was no indication whether anyone was inside the property.

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna said he has directed his office to help in the investigation, including the Homicide Investigation Tracking System and the unit's criminal investigators. That system includes a central repository for detailed information on violent crimes occurring in Washington and Oregon.

Two coffee-shop employees and several customers are being interviewed by police and considered critical witnesses, Troyer said. "As you can imagine, they are traumatized, they are in shock," said Troyer. No one else was hurt.

Brad Carpenter, CEO of Forza Coffee, met with the two young female baristas after they were interviewed by police and said they were "shaken up." The slain officers were "well-known to our staff," Carpenter, a retired police officer from Oakland and Gig Harbor.

"It's supposed to be a safe haven for everybody," Carpenter said about the coffee shop.

Police seized a white pickup parked in a nearby parking lot and took it away on a flatbed truck. Detectives were preparing search warrants for multiple locations, Troyer said.

The shootings come about a month after the killing of Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton, who was targeted for being a police officer when he was gunned down while sitting in his patrol car the night of Oct. 31.

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest in the Lakewood officer's deaths.

Forza Coffee is in a strip mall across the street from McChord Air Force Base and at a crossroads between Parkland and Lakewood, with a mix of residences and industrial businesses.

Immediately after the 911 call came in, police from Lakewood, Tacoma, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and other jurisdictions raced to the area.

"I have never seen this many scramble to a particular spot, ever," said David Gabrielson, 27, who works as clerk at a gas station near the coffee shop.

Troyer said officers "were self-dispatching from multiple agencies" to help. He also said law enforcement had not received any threats or warnings.

"We don't know if this is related to other shootings around the country or the one in Seattle," Troyer said. "It could be because someone saw this happening around the country and got himself ramped up."

Troyer said a KING-5 TV helicopter was interfering with "tactical operations" of police investigating the shootings, slowing down the search for suspects. The pilot had been asked to leave and refused, but KING apparently called off the helicopter.

Monty Norman, 44, of Lakewood works at a carwash and detailing shop three blocks from the Lakewood Police Department headquarters. Officers come in the shop every day to have their cars cleaned.

"It's just crazy. Just insane. Words can't explain. It's just a bad feeling, We see them [officers] every day. They're really good people," Norman said.

According to the department's Web site, the Lakewood Police Department has 123 staff members including 120 commissioned officers.

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010382767_webfourdead29m.html
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Jesus loves the little children, all the children in the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

 Words: C. Her­bert Wool­ston (1856-1927)  Music: George F. Root (1820-1895)
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« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2009, 09:03:24 PM »

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010385612_webpolicefund29m.html


Police union sets up fund for slain officers


The union for Lakewood Police officers and sergeants has established a fund for the four officers killed today.

By Seattle Times staff

The union for Lakewood Police officers and sergeants has established a fund for the four officers killed today.

On its Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=83164294642), the union says every penny donated will go to the officers' families and donations can be made to specific officers. Checks should be made out to the LPIG Benevolent Fund at P.O. Box 99579, Lakewood, WA 98499, according to the message posted by Brian D. Wurts, president of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild.

Wurts said he would "personally make sure" donations will go where intended. Wurts' e-mail address is bwurts@lpig.us.
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« Reply #11 on: November 29, 2009, 09:17:30 PM »

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010385339_webshootingupdates29m.html


Dispatches on the Lakewood police shooting and manhunt


Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards were identified as the officers killed this morning in the...

By Seattle Times staff

Reward information

Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person involved in this morning's fatal shooting, described as a black man who is between 5-feet-7-inches and 5-feet-10-inches tall, and wearing a black coat and blue jeans in the Lakewood, Wash. area. Anybody with information is asked to call 253-591-5959 or 866-977-2362.

UPDATE 6:02 PM

Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards were identified as the officers killed this morning in the coffee shop in Parkland.

UPDATE 5:09 PM

Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said a hoax was behind officers' search of vehicles at a storage facility near the shooting scene today. The Pierce County bomb squad also had been dispatched to Evergreen Self Storage.

A man in Tacoma had called his girlfriend and some other people and falsely claimed responsibility for the shooting, Troyer said. The man has since been arrested on suspicion of obstructing a police investigation.

UPDATE 4:54 PM

One of the four officers shot and killed early Sunday struggled with the gunman and fired some shots, said Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer.

Troyer said the investigation into the shootings indicate that the gunman "flat-out executed" two of the officers after he walked into Forza Coffee around 8:15 a.m. One officer then stood up and tried to go for the gunman and was shot, Troyer said.

After that, the fourth officer was involved in some kind of struggle with the gunman and apparently managed to fire shots, Troyer said.

"What happened in there wasn't just a shooting. One of the officers managed to fight his way with the suspect, wrestled him out the door when he was shot and killed," Troyer said.

UPDATE 3:58 PM


A KING-TV news crew hovering in a helicopter above the scene has been interfering with the investigation, according to Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer. But KING says the station has done nothing wrong.


Troyer said the helicopter was following sheriff's deputies as they carried out various tactical operations and had hindered the investigation at least three times. He said KING had not respected requests to back off and that the department is considering pursuing charges.

But Mark Ginther, KING's executive news director, said the helicopter backed off when asked. He said the station has followed Federal Aviation Administration rules for the airspace over the scene.

"It's important to recognize that it's a very stressful situation down there," Ginther said. He said the station has been happy to comply with a number of requests by Troyer to help the investigation by posting suspect information, tipline numbers and the like.

Ginther said the station has led television coverage of the event all day, but he puts that down to good journalism rather than being too aggressive.

UPDATE 3:33 PM

Pierce County's bomb squad rolled up around 3:30 p.m. to the Evergreen Self Storage facility near the scene of this morning's shooting. It's unclear what they are looking for. Police have been searching the parking lot of the facility.

UPDATE 3:23 PM

The Lakewood Police department plans to escort the bodies of their four slain officers to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's office in an extensive motorcade within two hours.

Officers from other jurisdictions will cover the duties of Lakewood officers taking part in the motorcade, said Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer.

Crime scene investigators continue to analyze the crime scene, and will work into the evening to reconstruct the shooting, Troyer said.

Detectives think the shooter may be on foot and still in the Parkland neighborhood where the shooting took place, Troyer said.

UPDATE 2:45 PM


Police have closed off a long stretch of 112th Street South near the coffee shop where the shooting occurred. The stretch of road is also next to the Evergreen Self Storage facility. Police have been searching the parking lot of the storage facility. Law-enforcement helicopters also have been circling overhead.
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« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2009, 10:25:30 PM »

4 Police Officers Shot Dead in Washington State; Person of Interest Named



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,577691,00.html

Investigators identified a man with an extensive criminal past as a "person of interest" in the ambush on four police officers, who were shot to death Sunday morning at a coffee shop.

Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer told reporters that Maurice Clemmons, 37, was one of several people investigators want to talk to and that he could not be called a suspect at this point.

In a news release, the sheriff's office said Clemmons has an extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft. Clemmons also recently was arrested and charged in Pierce County in Washington state for third-degree assault on a police officer, and second-degree rape of a child.

The four officers were with the 100-member police department of Lakewood, which adjoins the unincorporated area of Parkland, where the shootings took place. The city identified the victims as Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39; Ronald Owens, 37; Tina Griswold, 40; and Greg Richards 42.

Troyer said one of those officers fought with the gunman and may have wounded him before the officer died just outside the doorway. He told reporters that investigators were asking area medical providers to report any people wounded by gunshots.

Troyer said investigators believe two of the officers were shot dead while sitting in the shop, and a third was killed after standing up. The fourth apparently struggled with the gunman out the doorway and "gave up a good fight," getting off a few shots before he was either shot there or succumbed to earlier wounds.

"We believe there was a struggle, a commotion, a fight ... that he fought the guy all the way out the door," Troyer said.

He added, "We hope that he hit him."

Troyer said the gunman entered the coffee house and walked up to the counter as if to place an order. A barista saw a gun when the man opened his jacket and fled out the back door. The man then turned and opened fire on the officers as they sat working on their laptops, killing the three men and one woman in what Troyer described as a targeted ambush.

Troyer said the attack was clearly targeted at the officers, not a robbery gone bad.

"This was more of an execution. Walk in with the specific mindset to shoot police officers," he said.

Troyer said the officers — all from the Lakewood Police Department — were catching up on paperwork at the beginning of their shifts when they were attacked at 8:15 a.m. Sunday.

"There were marked patrol cars outside and they were all in uniform," Troyer said.

There was no indication of any connection with the Halloween night shooting of a Seattle police officer. The suspect in that shooting remains hospitalized.

"We won't know if it's a copycat effect or what it was until we get the case solved," Troyer said. "We don't even have a suspect ID right now."

Troyer estimated that a couple of hundred officers from the Washington State Patrol and multiple surrounding police agencies in the area were at the crime scene, with some coming on their own time.

"We have no motive at all," Troyer said. "I don't think when we find out what it is, it will be anything that makes any sense or be worth it."

Two employees and a few other customers were in the shop during the attack. All were interviewed by the Pierce County sheriff's investigators.

"Some are in shock. They are very upset," Troyer said. "They are the ones who are going to put together for us how this happened."

The Forza Coffee Shop, part of a popular local chain, is on a side street near McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, about 35 miles south of Seattle. The shop is in a small retail center alongside two restaurants, a cigar store and a nail salon.

Brad Carpenter, founder and owner of Forza Coffee, said his staff was OK and being interviewed by police, and that his main concern was for the families of the police officers.

"I'm a retired police officer, so this really hits close to home for me," said Carpenter, of nearby Gig Harbor.

Troyer said the Lakewood officers were two blocks outside their jurisdiction, and the coffee shop was a popular place for officers from surrounding jurisdictions to meet and share information.

Streets around the coffee shop were blocked off late Sunday morning, and a police helicopter hovered over a large crowd of investigators. TV video showed police taking possession of a pickup truck parked in a grocery store in Parkland.

Troyer said investigators were checking surveillance video from multiple sources, trying to identify a possible getaway car.

Dave Gabrielson, a clerk at Foot Mart about a block away from the coffee shop, told the newspaper all was quiet when he opened the store at 8 a.m. About 30 minutes later, "All of a sudden a million cops were zooming up and down the road," Gabrielson said.

He said he saw officers bring a police dog into a nearby apartment complex.

Last month, Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton was shot and killed Halloween night as he was sitting in a cruiser with trainee Britt Sweeney. Sweeney was grazed in the neck.

Authorities say the man charged with that shooting also firebombed four police vehicles in October as part of a "one-man war" against law enforcement. Christopher Monfort, 41, was arrested after being wounded in a firefight with police days after the Seattle shooting. He remains hospitalized in stable condition, the hospital said Sunday.

The officers killed Sunday were a patrol squad made up of three officers and their sergeant. No threats had been made against them or other officers in the region, sheriff's officials said. Their families have been notified.

"We lost people we care about. We're working to find out who did this and deal with him." Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor told reporters at the scene.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said she was "shocked and horrified" by the killings.

"Our police put their lives on the line every day, and tragedies like this remind us of the risks they continually take to keep our communities safe," she said in a written statement. "My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of these officers, as well as the entire law enforcement community."
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« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2009, 10:30:02 PM »



http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstory/story/973573.html


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« Reply #14 on: November 30, 2009, 07:54:51 AM »

Published Monday, November 30, 2009
Police say suspect in police shootings is in Seattle house, wounded and possibly dead

A suspect in the slaying of four police officers who were gunned down in a suburban coffee shop was holed up at a Seattle house early Monday, wounded and possibly dead, police said.

Negotiators were trying to communicate with Maurice Clemmons, 37, using loudspeakers and explosions to try to prod him from hiding. At one point, gunshots rang through the neighborhood, about 30 miles from the original crime scene.

"We have determined that in fact he has been shot," said Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff. "He may be deceased from his gunshot wound."

Clemmons, who has a long criminal history _ including a long prison sentence commuted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee nearly a decade ago _ became the prime target Sunday in the search for the killer of Lakewood police Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, and Officers Ronald Owens, 37; Tina Griswold, 40; and Greg Richards 42.

Authorities had speculated early Sunday that the gunman might have been wounded at the coffee shop by one of his victims. Troyer said interviews with others detained in the investigation confirmed that theory.

Police surrounded the house late Sunday, and a negotiator used a loudspeaker early Monday to call him out by name, saying: "Mr. Clemmons, I'd like to get you out of there safely. I can tell you this, we are not going away."

Any response from inside the house was inaudible from the vantage of a photographer for The Associated Press. But shortly thereafter, police began using sirens outside the house, and there were several loud bangs before the negotiator resumed speaking, saying: "This is one of the toughest decisions you'll make in your life, but you need to man up."

By 3 a.m. Pacific time, the loudspeakers and explosions had fallen silent.

Clemmons is believed to have been in the area around the time of the shooting, but Troyer declined to say what evidence might link him to the shooting.

Investigators say they know of no reason that Clemmons or anyone else might have had to open fire on the four as they sat working on their laptops early Sunday morning, catching up on paperwork at the beginning of their shifts.

"We're going to be surprised if there is a motive worth mentioning," said Troyer, who sketched out a scene of controlled and deliberate carnage that spared the employees and other customers at the coffee shop in suburban Parkland, about 35 miles south of Seattle.

"He was very versed with the weapon," Troyer said. "This wasn't something where the windows were shot up and there bullets sprayed around the place. The bullets hit their targets."

Officer Richards' sister-in-law, Melanie Burwell, called the shooting "senseless."

"He didn't have a mean bone in his body," she said. "If there were more people in the world like Greg, things like this wouldn't happen.

Clemmons has an extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas. He also recently charged in Washington state with assaulting a police officer, and second-degree rape of a child. Using a bail bondsman, he posted $150,000 _ only $15,000 of his own money _ and was released from jail last week.

Documents related to the pending charges in Washington state indicate an unstable and volatile personality. In one instance, he is accused of punching a sheriff's deputy in the face, The Seattle Times reported. In another, he is accused of gathering his wife and young relatives and forcing them to undress, according to a Pierce County sheriff's report.

"The whole time Clemmons kept saying things like trust him, the world is going to end soon, and that he was Jesus," the report said.

Troyer said investigators believe two of the officers were killed while sitting in the shop, and a third was shot dead after standing up. The fourth apparently "gave up a good fight."

"We believe there was a struggle, a commotion, a fight ... that he fought the guy all the way out the door," Troyer said.

In 1989, Clemmons, then 17, was convicted in Little Rock for aggravated robbery. He was paroled in 2000 after Huckabee commuted a 95-year prison sentence.

Huckabee, who was criticized during his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 for granting many clemencies and commutations, cited Clemmons' youth. Clemmons later violated his parole, was returned to prison and released in 2004.

On Sunday, Huckabee issued this statement on his Web site: "Should he be found to be responsible for this horrible tragedy, it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington state."

http://www.inforum.com/event/apArticle/id/D9C9RH200/
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« Reply #15 on: November 30, 2009, 10:20:05 AM »

Lakewood shooting suspect was not in Leschi home, but police are searching nearby homes.
Listen to KOMO News.

http://www.komonews.com/
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« Reply #16 on: November 30, 2009, 10:58:24 AM »

Suspect in officer shootings not found in Seattle house/b]





Suspect in officer shootings not found in Seattle house

by KING5.com and Associated Press
Posted on November 30, 2009 at 6:41 AM
Updated today at 7:50 AM
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SEATTLE -- After an 11-hour standoff at a home in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood, Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said police have searched the house and did not locate Maurice Clemmons, suspected of gunning down four police officers in a Parkland coffee shop Sunday morning.
A handgun was also recovered from the crime scene in Parkland, but Troyer did not specify what kind of gun.
"We know that this was his last location and that he has suffered from a gunshot wound when the (Parkland) incident occured," said Troyer. "We also have a murder warrant out for him for four counts of murder in the first degree."
The area in Leschi remains in lockdown. Leschi Elementary school, located near where the 11-hour standoff took place, have canceled classes today. Residents were also staying put inside their homes until directed otherwise by police.

Snipped>

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Suspect-in-Lakewood-police-slayings-wounded-possibly-dead-78130572.html
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« Reply #17 on: November 30, 2009, 11:47:59 AM »

UW police alert students to suspect sighting

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE -- University of Washington police have alerted students to an unconfirmed report that the suspect in the Lakewood police shootings may have been sighted on or near the campus in Seattle.

Cmdr. Jerome Solomon says someone reported that Maurice Clemmons was seen getting off a bus about 7 a.m. Monday near the university's hospital. He says police are checking the area.

Students have been alerted by e-mail and text messages.

Police thought they had Clemmons holed up overnight in a Seattle house, but when officers entered early Monday he was not there.

Police spokesman Jeff Kappel says there was evidence he was on the property. Police have search other homes in the Leschi neighborhood, but the suspect is still at large.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_officers_shot_uw.html
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« Reply #18 on: November 30, 2009, 11:51:42 AM »

Shooting suspect might be in U District

Posted at 8:17 am on Monday, November 30, 2009
Last Updated at 8:34 am on Monday, November 30, 2009
    
UW Police say the Lakewood shooting suspect might be in the university area.  Expect more police presence in the district this morning. Police searched a Seattle neighborhood overnight but did not find the suspect, Maurice Clemmons. Prosecutors have charged him with four counts of aggravated first-degree murder in the death of four Lakewood police officers on  Sunday, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Be alert and call 911 if you see the suspect.

http://emergency.washington.edu/
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« Reply #19 on: November 30, 2009, 12:33:27 PM »

Slain officers respected for careers, family life



The four victims of Sunday morning's shooting were veteran officers who brought a range of talents to the fledgling Lakewood Police Department when it was created in 2004, according to Lakewood Police Chief Bret FarrarBy Jack Broom, Lynda V. Mapes, Bob Young and Susan KelleherSeattle Times staff reportersPREV 1 of 4 NEXTOfficer Gregory RichardsThe four victims of Sunday morning's shooting were veteran officers who brought a range of talents to the fledgling Lakewood Police Department when it was created in 2004, according to Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar."This is a very difficult time for our families and our officers," he said. "Please keep our families and Lakewood Police in your prayers."The slain officers "all have been outstanding professionals," he added.

Officer Tina Griswold
Tina Griswold, 40, joined the Lakewood Police Department in 2004 and earlier this year won its Lifesaving Award."She was likable and enjoyed life," said her former father-in-law, Carroll Kelley of Shelton, Mason County.She and Kelley's son met when both were students at Shelton High School, Kelley said. Griswold became a police officer after they divorced, he said.She is survived by her husband, a daughter, 21, and a son, 8, police and relatives said.She previously worked as a police officer in Shelton for three years, public records show. She was an officer and SWAT team member for the Lacey Police Department from 1998 to 2004, according to Sgt. Scott Eastman, her former supervisor. The group was responsible for serving high-risk warrants and conducting high-risk entries, he said."Tina was an outstanding officer," Eastman said. "She was very assertive, and had no fear in dealing with high-risk situations and suspects that were larger than her. She had this presence about her that was in charge and you were going to do what she said. She had the verbal skills and the confidence to pull it off."Griwold was avid about physical fitness, and lifted weights and ran regularly, Eastman said. She stood about 5 feet and weighed less than 100 pounds."She could do 30 to 40 pull-ups," Eastman said. "A lot of the guys were talking about that this morning. We'd always joke that she didn't have much to lift."Griswold was one of the first members of Lacey's tactical team, and the first woman to hold the job, Eastman said."She was a very hard worker and just a fun person to work with," he said. "She spent most of her free time with family. ... That was her priority."Although she left Shelton to join the Lacey department, she still lived in town and would run into her former colleagues."The young officers looked up to her," Eastman said. "And she was a great partner for the experienced officers. She knew what she was doing."Lacey officers are still in shock over the news, he said, adding, "We're looking for an opportunity to honor her and her family."

Officer Gregory Richards
He was known as one of the sweet guys, the one everyone liked to work with.Gregory Richards, 42, of Graham had eight years of law-enforcement experience, starting with work as a patrol officer in Kent.He worked there from September 2001 until October 2004, before hiring on with the Lakewood Police Department.The Kent department was going through layoffs because of budget cuts, and Richards sought a more secure situation for his family, said Lt. Lisa Price, public-information officer for the Kent department."He was a very well-respected and well-liked co-worker, and when he left we were sad to see him go," Price said. "People loved working alongside him. I firmly believe Greg would still be with Kent if we hadn't been going through layoffs."He was just a nice, cute, angelic guy."He had a lighter side too. Richards was the drummer in an all-police officer rock band called Locked Down. The band played at social gatherings, including a recent police officers' motorcycle rally in Ocean Shores.The killing was devastating news. "It was a complete shock to my system, it's a horrific crime and it hits close to home," Price said.Richards is survived by his wife, Kelly, a daughter and two sons."Everyone is just here," said Melanie Burwell, a sister-in-law answering the door at Richards' home. "We are staying together."Burwell said she last saw Richards at Thanksgiving. "It was wonderful," she said, fighting tears. "All he ever wanted was his family. He didn't want to do anything but be with them."If there were more people in this world like Greg, nothing like this would ever happen."

Sgt. Mark Renninger
A decorated veteran officer and popular law-enforcement instructor, Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, is survived by his wife and three children."Mark was a professional, dedicated police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice. More importantly, he was a loving and devoted father, husband and family member who will be missed by many," said Renninger's brother, Matt, on a statement published on the Web site of WFMZ-TV in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, where Renninger grew up.He joined the Tukwila Police Department shortly after leaving military service in 1996. He was a patrol officer, a SWAT team member and was, for a time, president of the Tukwila police officers' guild."Mark was an outstanding police officer and a well-liked member of the department during his time with us," said a statement issued by the Tukwila Police Department.He moved to the Lakewood department in 2004. According to the program for a state 2008 law-enforcement conference, Renninger was an instructor in SWAT courses and served as an instructor for courses in firearms, chemical munitions and patrol responsibilities.On a Facebook tribute page set up by his relatives Sunday, more than 1,000 message of tribute were posted by early evening.Among the postings was one from Rick Fisher, who said he coached Renninger's daughter in fastpitch softball two seasons ago. "Mark was a fun and compassionate man," Fisher wrote. "He was always willing to help me and the girls out when he could. He was a tremendous help."

Officer Ronald Owens
Friends describe Ronald Owens, 37, as a dedicated officer and devoted father. He was also an "ideal tenant," said Toni Strehlow, who managed a property Owens rented, a house with a white-picket fence near downtown Puyallup."When he rented from us, the first thing he did was replace walls and a patio door and he never charged us, never wanted a rent deduction. He just wanted to do for people," said Strehlow.He was a good neighbor, too, said Charley Stokes who lived next door to him in Puyallup. "We'd talk over the back fence, have a beer once in a while."Owens, who was divorced, was very proud of his daughter, he said.Strehlow and Stokes said Owens was excited about going from his job as a State Patrol trooper to the Lakewood Police Department in 2004, saying Owens looked forward to more regular hours and better advancement opportunities.Strehlow said she was speechless when she heard the news. "It's just wrong. He was truly an unforgettable man and a kind, kind person."Owens went into police work because his father, who died in 2006, was a detective, according to a neighbor, Edie Wintermute.Owens checked in on her husband after surgery, she said. "He was a good father and very caring guy."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010386301_officers30m.html
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