Post on 16-Dec-2015
““Leading through shock and sorrow”Leading through shock and sorrow”the Lakewood Police tragedythe Lakewood Police tragedy
OutlineOutline About LakewoodAbout Lakewood 11/29/200911/29/2009 Our fallen officersOur fallen officers The first weekThe first week Memorial ServiceMemorial Service Survivor BenefitsSurvivor Benefits 8 months later8 months later Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
About Lakewood About Lakewood (1 of 2)(1 of 2) ““Host City” to Joint Base Host City” to Joint Base
Lewis-McChord Lewis-McChord Incorporated 1996Incorporated 1996
60,000 residents60,000 residents 22ndnd largest city in Pierce largest city in Pierce
CountyCounty Diverse demographicsDiverse demographics
New City Hall 2001New City Hall 2001 Major progress since Major progress since
cityhood:cityhood: econ. dev.econ. dev. public workspublic works public safetypublic safety parksparks
About Lakewood About Lakewood (2 of 2)(2 of 2) LPD launched 2004LPD launched 2004
After 7-year contract with After 7-year contract with Pierce County Sheriff’s Dept. Pierce County Sheriff’s Dept.
100 commissioned officers at 100 commissioned officers at time of shootingstime of shootings
A busy PD! A busy PD! Two police chiefs in last 12 Two police chiefs in last 12
yearsyears $12M police facility opened $12M police facility opened
April 2009April 2009 Built-in firearms rangeBuilt-in firearms range
Accredited by CALEA in Accredited by CALEA in March 2010March 2010
Major focus on trainingMajor focus on training
11/29/2009 11/29/2009 (1 of 2)(1 of 2)
Sunday after ThanksgivingSunday after Thanksgiving Shift started at 0630Shift started at 0630 Sergeant Renninger was Sergeant Renninger was
shift supervisorshift supervisor Officers had altercation with Officers had altercation with
another person earlieranother person earlier 0816 dispatch regarding 0816 dispatch regarding
shots at coffee shopshots at coffee shop Off-duty Lakewood Off-duty Lakewood
sergeant and PCSD sergeant and PCSD respond. respond.
Officers found dead on Officers found dead on arrivalarrival
11/29/2009 11/29/2009 (2 of 2)(2 of 2) Pierce County jurisdictionPierce County jurisdiction Family notification beginsFamily notification begins
Media and grapevineMedia and grapevine Assigned LPD liaisonsAssigned LPD liaisons
City Manager and City Manager and Councilmembers assembleCouncilmembers assemble
Near quorumNear quorum
First press releasesFirst press releases Other agencies quick to publishOther agencies quick to publish City of Lakewood:City of Lakewood:
• PR drafted by committeePR drafted by committee• Interaction with LPDInteraction with LPD• After notificationAfter notification• Employee photosEmployee photos
Sergeant Mark RenningerSergeant Mark Renninger Recruited for college football out of Recruited for college football out of
high school – joined Army insteadhigh school – joined Army instead Served with Army Rangers 7 years Served with Army Rangers 7 years
(sergeant first class)(sergeant first class) Served previously with Tukwila PDServed previously with Tukwila PD SWAT team leader and state SWAT team leader and state
instructorinstructor Executive board member: Executive board member:
Washington Tactical officers Washington Tactical officers AssociationAssociation
13 years law enforcement 13 years law enforcement experienceexperience
Married with 3 childrenMarried with 3 children
Officer Tina GriswoldOfficer Tina Griswold
12 years law 12 years law enforcementenforcement
Served previously with Served previously with Shelton and Lacey Shelton and Lacey PolicePolice
Trained in entries and Trained in entries and previous member of previous member of Lakewood Special Lakewood Special OperationsOperations
Married with 2 Married with 2 childrenchildren
Officer Ronnie OwensOfficer Ronnie Owens
13 years law 13 years law enforcement enforcement experienceexperience
Prior service with Prior service with Washington State Washington State Patrol Patrol
6’ 5” tall, very strong 6’ 5” tall, very strong and athleticand athletic
Divorced, 1 daughterDivorced, 1 daughter
Officer Greg RichardsOfficer Greg Richards
9 years law 9 years law enforcement enforcement experienceexperience
Served previously Served previously with Kent Policewith Kent Police
Served at Fort Lewis Served at Fort Lewis with the Armywith the Army
Married with 3 Married with 3 childrenchildren
The first week The first week (1 of 3)(1 of 3)
The Lakewood FamilyThe Lakewood Family ““The Families”The Families” Lakewood PoliceLakewood Police
• LeadersLeaders• Rank and fileRank and file
City Hall employees City Hall employees City CouncilCity Council CommunityCommunity
Media relationsMedia relations Press ConferencePress Conference Media overloadMedia overload
The first week The first week (2 of 3)(2 of 3)
Killer at largeKiller at large Law Enforcement support Law Enforcement support
Patrolling LakewoodPatrolling Lakewood Planning the memorial Planning the memorial
service service Emergency Management Emergency Management
eventevent Other agenciesOther agencies Behind the BadgeBehind the Badge Volunteer “helpers”Volunteer “helpers” Donations Donations
Community Support Community Support Enclosed you will find a check for Enclosed you will find a check for $500 I trust you to see that $400 Of $500 I trust you to see that $400 Of this goes to each of the families of this goes to each of the families of those 4 murdered officers. The other those 4 murdered officers. The other $100 is to be given to the officer who $100 is to be given to the officer who shot that %&*#! who murdered the 4 shot that %&*#! who murdered the 4 officers. Bless his heart- he sure did a officers. Bless his heart- he sure did a great job and saved a lot of money for great job and saved a lot of money for the state, too! the state, too! My writing isn’t so good as, at almost My writing isn’t so good as, at almost 88 years of age, I have macular 88 years of age, I have macular degeneration of my eyes and arthritis degeneration of my eyes and arthritis in my hands- but my check is good! in my hands- but my check is good! Bless all of you for the work you do Bless all of you for the work you do every day- my love to all.every day- my love to all. Gloria F. Johnson- 1820 Hassler Ln., Gloria F. Johnson- 1820 Hassler Ln., Burlington WABurlington WA
““The story of a little boy named AJ and his The story of a little boy named AJ and his encounter with a police officer outside Lakewood encounter with a police officer outside Lakewood police headquarters on Sunday has lifted the police headquarters on Sunday has lifted the spirits of a department still reeling from the loss spirits of a department still reeling from the loss of four colleagues on a single, violent day.”of four colleagues on a single, violent day.”
““AJ wanted to give his plush toy named AJ wanted to give his plush toy named “Bruno” [his toy dinosaur] and the contents of his “Bruno” [his toy dinosaur] and the contents of his piggybank to the children of Sgt. Mark Renninger piggybank to the children of Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Greg Richards and and officers Tina Griswold, Greg Richards and Ronald Owens….”Ronald Owens….”
““AJ and his mom traveled from Kingston – a AJ and his mom traveled from Kingston – a one-way trip of more than 40 miles – so the boy one-way trip of more than 40 miles – so the boy could make his offering.” could make his offering.”
Read more: Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2009/12/17/997194/child-offers-up-toy-http://www.thenewstribune.com/2009/12/17/997194/child-offers-up-toy-dinosaur-piggy.html#ixzz0w89zopb4dinosaur-piggy.html#ixzz0w89zopb4
Community Support Community Support
Memorial Service Memorial Service Unified service for four Unified service for four
officersofficers Mayor presidedMayor presided About 20,000 mourners About 20,000 mourners
at Tacoma Domeat Tacoma Dome Procession lasted Procession lasted
several hoursseveral hours Mostly law enforcement Mostly law enforcement
in attendancein attendance Major media eventMajor media event Coordinated in a weekCoordinated in a week
respectfulrespectful safesafe securesecure coordinatedcoordinated financedfinanced
Taking care of city hall Taking care of city hall Councilmembers and Councilmembers and
employeesemployees Family and friendsFamily and friends
Survivor Benefits Survivor Benefits Public Safety Officers Public Safety Officers
Benefit Program (federal)Benefit Program (federal) Killed or catastrophically Killed or catastrophically
injured in the line of dutyinjured in the line of duty $311,810; www.psob.gov$311,810; www.psob.gov
Washington State DRS Washington State DRS www.drs.wa.gov www.drs.wa.gov
$214,000 + monthly $214,000 + monthly stipend or lump sum % of stipend or lump sum % of vested amountvested amount
Washington State L&I Washington State L&I (www.lni.wa.gov) (www.lni.wa.gov)
monthly stipend up to $4,625monthly stipend up to $4,625 medical benefitsmedical benefits immediate benefit of $3,855immediate benefit of $3,855 burial expenses benefit of burial expenses benefit of
$7,709$7,709
Survivor Benefits Survivor Benefits (Continued)(Continued)
Taser FoundationTaser Foundation $2,500 lump sum$2,500 lump sum www.taserfoundation.org www.taserfoundation.org
American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens (AFPCC) American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens (AFPCC) miscellaneous benefitsmiscellaneous benefits www.policeinfor@aphf.orgwww.policeinfor@aphf.org
COPS FoundationCOPS Foundation college/educational benefitscollege/educational benefits www.COPS.org www.COPS.org
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8 Months Later8 Months Later
The new normal The new normal Keeping busy is easy in LakewoodKeeping busy is easy in Lakewood PTSD concerns PTSD concerns Focus returning to economic developmentFocus returning to economic development
CALEACALEA Police Chief’s healthPolice Chief’s health Record growth and redeployments at Joint Base Record growth and redeployments at Joint Base
Lewis-McChordLewis-McChord police-military partnershipspolice-military partnerships garrison-city relationshipgarrison-city relationship
Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Civilian control of police – when and how Civilian control of police – when and how
to assert during a crisisto assert during a crisis Managing the mediaManaging the media
It’s sometimes ok to say “no”It’s sometimes ok to say “no” social media – the way of the futuresocial media – the way of the future
Employee wellnessEmployee wellness Looking out for leaders and subordinates Looking out for leaders and subordinates
alikealike Peer supportPeer support Managing volunteersManaging volunteers Continuously assess workloadContinuously assess workload
Maintaining communications with Maintaining communications with department in crisis department in crisis Assign liaison earlyAssign liaison early More is betterMore is better
With Officer Benjamin Kelly, Seattle PD
Q & AQ & A