Thousands in Washington state line up to remember 4 slain officers at memorial service

Slain Wash. officers to be honored at memorial

TACOMA, Wash. — A procession of 2,000 cars followed the flag-draped caskets of four slain police officers to a memorial service Tuesday as thousands of mourners, mostly members of law enforcement from across the country, lined the streets.

Lori Lightfoot, a police detective from Fresno, Calif., was among officers who traveled from as far away as New York, Chicago and Canada to remember Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards.

Lightfoot and Sheila Chandler, also a Fresno detective, said the deaths of the four Lakewood officers brought back memories of four Oakland police officers killed during a traffic stop and a shootout in March.

“It’s just disbelief,” Lightfoot said. “It’s unbelievable that it could happen again.”

The Lakewood officers were killed Nov. 29 before the start of their shift. Authorities say Maurice Clemmons singled them out and spared employees and other customers at the coffee shop in Parkland, a Tacoma suburb about 35 miles south of Seattle.

Clemmons was shot to death last week by a Seattle police officer after a two-day manhunt. Prosecutors said he received help from family and friends, and seven people have been arrested.

Several candlelight vigils have been held for the officers since the shooting, but Tuesday’s memorial service and procession is believed to be the largest in state history. Thousands of people lined the streets around the Tacoma Dome, where 20,000 people were expected to attend the service.

The officers’ family and friends served as pallbearers, carrying the coffins inside.

In addition to eulogies from family, friends and public officials, mourners will watch a video tribute to the officers. Floral arrangements lined the stage, as well as two motorcycles, a drum set and a NASCAR race car.

Gov. Chris Gregoire, who will speak at the service, has directed that flags at all state facilities be lowered to half-staff Tuesday.

The memorial service was delayed more than an hour because of the large law enforcement procession. Roads surrounding the venue and along the route were shut down for several hours.

Additional space for the public to view telecasts of the service was made available at the University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University and the Christian Faith Center in Federal Way.