1,500 policemen from B.C. at funeral of four Lakewood cops
By Salim Jiwa
VANCOUVER – B.C. police officers, firemen and paramedics poured across the U.S. border by the hundreds on Tuesday to pay their final respects to fallen Lakewood police officers.
A count showed more than 1,500 policemen, including 800 RCMP officers wearing their traditional red tunics, and 300 Vancouver police officers attended the emotional funeral service held at the Tacoma Dome packed with ordinary folks and officers from across the United States. Hundreds of firemen and paramedics also left town to join in the funeral services.
Thousands of people lined the route as the bodies of the four – Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Greg Richards, and Ronnie Owens – were escorted by police cars, fire engines and motorbike cops.
Some people lining the street carried placards expressing their gratitiude.
The four officers were gunned down at close range by chronic criminal Maurice Clemmons. They were shot while having coffee at the Forza coffee shop prior to the start of their shift. (See details of how police got Clemmons.)
Clemmons pointed his gun at the four and shot three of them in the head and one in the neck. He had earlier vowed to kill cops. 48-hours later, a Seattle police officer killed Clemmons.
The moment was so emotional for police that a full quarter of the Abbotsford police department’s 200 officers went to the funeral, said Const. Ian MacDonald.
Const. Lindsey Houghton, a spokesman for Vancouver Police, also went along with 300 members of VPD.
RCMP estimated 800 of their members went to show their support.
“The incident in Lakewood hits all too close to home both in geographical distance and in circumstance,” said IHIT spokesman Cpl. Dale Carr who wore his red tunic to the funeral. “This will be a time for all of those in attendance to celebrate the contribution these four officers gave to their community.
“ It will also be a time to reflect and remember all those in Law Enforcement from over the years that have died serving their communities,” he said.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields said: “Individual officers believe that their attendance at this Memorial Service will represent the support of an entire Force, and an entire profession, for the family of the fallen officers.”
”The RCMP knows all to well, the pain that comes with losing officers in the line of duty,” said Shields. “We also know that the families of the fallen officers will take comfort in our support, as will their fellow officers, and the citizens of Lakewood.”
“In today’s policing world, law enforcement agencies and personnel from Canada and the United States, work closely on criminal matters of mutual interest, and importance,” he said.
“ This cooperative work has fostered strong personal relationships between officers from both countries,” he added.
”We consider our U.S. Law Enforcement neighbours to be our partners, and our friends,” added Shields. “We stand by them, as they would us, to recognize the sacrifice these four police officers made for their community, and their country.”
The outpouring of support for the four officers is evident on a Facebook memorial page. 245,000 people had joined the page and hundreds of tributes were written by people.
Many spoke of their sense of loss and many said they were overwhelmed and fell silent when they saw the motorcades passing by.
Kathi Sollars, said on the Facebook memorial: “To the wives of the fallen officers…I pinned a badge on my husband’s uniform for over 10 years. It was an honor to get his uniform ready everyday and pray over him as he left the house each day,” she said.
“I can’t imagine him not coming home from work…. Even though he is not currently in law enforcement, you are still our family, we are still bonded to our fellow officers and family. My heart aches for you. May God give you peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.”
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