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AFSCME Sends Sympathy to Families of Murdered Police Officers

December 1, 2009

Four police officers were tragically killed in Lakewood, Washington Sunday morning in a horrific act of violence.  Sgt. Mark Renninger, and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards were ambushed in a coffee shop by a suspected lone gunman as they were preparing to begin patrol.  
      
“The loss of these brave law enforcement officers is felt deeply by those who knew them, and by their brothers and sisters in blue across the nation,” said James Howell, Assistant Director of AFSCME Law Enforcement and a retired police officer from the City of New Haven, Connecticut.  “Their dedication to protecting the Lakewood community is honored by all Americans and will be greatly missed by those they served so bravely and well.”

The officers who died were members of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild.  Their brothers and sisters in AFSCME Law Enforcement, and all AFSCME members, send their sympathy to the families and fellow officers of those who died tragically Sunday. 

 “On behalf of the 100,000 law enforcement personnel and all the members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, I want to extend our deepest sympathy to their families and fellow officers,” Jim Lyman, Chair of the AFSCME Law Enforcement Advisory Board and a retired Albany (NY) police officer . “The loss of these brave officers touches us all.” 

The suspect in the killings, Maurice Clemmons, was shot and killed by a police officer early Tuesday while in possession of a handgun belonging to one of the slain officers.  Four people have been arrested for allegedly assisting the suspect to elude authorities during the two day manhunt.

As uniformed officers and civilian law enforcement workers in states, counties and cities, at educational institutions and other areas, AFSCME members proudly serve and protect every day.  AFSCME Law Enforcement members around the country work hard to keep our families and communities safe – patrolling our streets, securing our airports and enforcing our laws.  

Donations to the families of the fallen officers of the Lakewood Police Department can be made by visiting http://www.lpig.us or sending a check to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, P.O. Box 99579, Lakewood, Washington 98499.

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