November 29, 2009 - Another Day of Infamy

Officer Timothy Brenton

Sgt Mark Renninger

Officer Tina Griswold

Officer Ronnie Owens

Officer Greg Richards

The Pacific Northwest has seen the murder of five police officers over the last six weeks. All of them ambushed by suspects bent on killing police. Seattle Officer Timothy Brenton was killed, and his partner wounded, on Halloween night while they sat in their squad car alongside a city street. The suspect was tracked down by detectives and taken into custody but not before they had to shoot him. Four Lakewood Police officers, Sgt Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Ronnie Owens and Greg Richard, were shot and killed in a coffee shop in Parkland (near Tacoma) on Sunday morning November 29th. The suspect was caught two days later by a lone Seattle police officer on a dark city street and killed.

I did not know any of the officers but they were brothers and a sister in the law enforcement family. They were people just like each of us. They had a family, hobbies, and a life that was taken from them for no reason. Eleven children will grow up without a father or mother because of these senseless murders. Please remember each child and family member in your prayers.

Between 100 and 150 officers die in the line of duty each year. About half are killed in car accidents and the other half die from being murdered. What is so troubling about these five Pacific Northwest killings is that none of the officers were given a fighting chance. In other words the suspects were cowardly and gave the officers no chance to protect themselves. Much like the attack on Pearl Harbor 68 years ago.

As a retired police officer nothing really suprises me anymore. After 30 years you see the worst of people. These murders weigh heavily on my heart and the law enforcement community. We will get over it but the remembrance will always be there.

So if you get a chance say thanks to a police officer for the sacrifices they make to protect our society and freedoms. For that matter thank all of our public safety folks!

Jesus said:

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13