Six Police Officers Since Halloween

Like most people, I guess, I like to look back over the past year and think about the news and events that grabbed our attention. To that end, the biggest story here in the Puget Sound Region is the recent spate of police killings.  The chilling thing that connects them all is that they all happened by ambush.

Eight police officers were ambushed in these incidents and only two survived the attacks.  Here in Pierce County we've lost five of those six in the last month.  The first of the six officer was a Seattle officer last October.  These events have left us all reeling a bit, especially those who are members of local law enforcement agencies.  We remember:

Officer Timothy Q, Brenton Seattle Police Department October 31, 2009

Officer Tina Griswold Lakewood Police Department November 29, 2009

Officer Ronald Owens Lakewood Police Department November 29, 2009

Sergeant Mark Renninger Lakewood Police Department November 29, 2009

Officer Greg Richards Lakewood Police Department November 29, 2009

Deputy Kent Mundell Pierce County Sheriff Department December 28, 2009

As stated earlier, two other officers were wounded during these incidents.  An officer in Seattle, and Deputy Rundell's partner.  It really gives me reason to pause and wonder if there isn't some sort of bad trend being set here.  While deaths of police are actually down 13 percent from last years for the nation, our rate skyrocketed and all of them from ambush by three different killers.  I really hope this is some kind of anomally and not any kind of trend.

I should note that killer of the four Lakewood officers and the killer of deputy are dead.  Officer Brenton's killer pleaded "not guilty" at his arraignment.  

May they all rest in peace and may their families, friends and fello officers be comforted in their grief.

VW

Comments

[Bloviating Zeppelin]

Ambush attacks are up; I'm starting to think it's a combination of actual intent plus at least a partial lack of situational awareness on behalf of some officers.

A horrible combination and always deadly.

BZ