“Leading through shock and sorrow” the Lakewood Police tragedy

1. “Leading through shock and sorrow”the Lakewood Police tragedy

2. About Lakewood 11/29/2009 Our fallen officers The first week Memorial Service Survivor Benefits 8 months later Lessons Learned Outline

3. “Host City” to Joint Base Lewis-McChord Incorporated 1996 60,000 residents 2nd largest city in Pierce County Diverse demographics New City Hall 2001 Major progress since cityhood: econ. dev. public works public safety parks About Lakewood (1 of 2)

4. LPD launched 2004 After 7-year contract with Pierce County Sheriff’s Dept. 100 commissioned officers at time of shootings A busy PD! Two police chiefs in last 12 years $12M police facility opened April 2009 Built-in firearms range Accredited by CALEA in March 2010 Major focus on training About Lakewood (2 of 2)

5. 11/29/2009 (1 of 2) • Sunday after Thanksgiving • Shift started at 0630 • Sergeant Renninger was shift supervisor • Officers had altercation with another person earlier • 0816 dispatch regarding shots at coffee shop • Off-duty Lakewood sergeant and PCSD respond. • Officers found dead on arrival

6. 11/29/2009 (2 of 2) • Pierce County jurisdiction • Family notification begins • Media and grapevine • Assigned LPD liaisons • City Manager and Councilmembers assemble • Near quorum • First press releases • Other agencies quick to publish • City of Lakewood: • PR drafted by committee • Interaction with LPD • After notification • Employee photos

7. Sergeant Mark Renninger • Recruited for college football out of high school – joined Army instead • Served with Army Rangers 7 years (sergeant first class) • Served previously with Tukwila PD • SWAT team leader and state instructor • Executive board member: Washington Tactical officers Association • 13 years law enforcement experience • Married with 3 children

8. Officer Tina Griswold • 12 years law enforcement • Served previously with Shelton and Lacey Police • Trained in entries and previous member of Lakewood Special Operations • Married with 2 children

9. Officer Ronnie Owens • 13 years law enforcement experience • Prior service with Washington State Patrol • 6’ 5” tall, very strong and athletic • Divorced, 1 daughter

10. Officer Greg Richards • 9 years law enforcement experience • Served previously with Kent Police • Served at Fort Lewis with the Army • Married with 3 children

11. The first week (1 of 3) • The Lakewood Family • “The Families” • Lakewood Police • Leaders • Rank and file • City Hall employees • City Council • Community • Media relations • Press Conference • Media overload

12. The first week (2 of 3) • Killer at large • Law Enforcement support • Patrolling Lakewood • Planning the memorial service • Emergency Management event • Other agencies • Behind the Badge • Volunteer “helpers” • Donations

13. Community Support Enclosed you will find a check for $500 I trust you to see that $400 Of this goes to each of the families of those 4 murdered officers. The other $100 is to be given to the officer who shot that %&*#! who murdered the 4 officers. Bless his heart- he sure did a great job and saved a lot of money for the state, too! My writing isn’t so good as, at almost 88 years of age, I have macular degeneration of my eyes and arthritis in my hands- but my check is good! Bless all of you for the work you do every day- my love to all. Gloria F. Johnson- 1820 Hassler Ln., Burlington WA

14. Community Support “The story of a little boy named AJ and his encounter with a police officer outside Lakewood police headquarters on Sunday has lifted the spirits of a department still reeling from the loss of four colleagues on a single, violent day.” “AJ wanted to give his plush toy named “Bruno” [his toy dinosaur] and the contents of his piggybank to the children of Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Greg Richards and Ronald Owens….” “AJ and his mom traveled from Kingston – a one-way trip of more than 40 miles – so the boy could make his offering.” Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2009/12/17/997194/child-offers-up-toy-dinosaur-piggy.html#ixzz0w89zopb4

15. Memorial Service • Unified service for four officers • Mayor presided • About 20,000 mourners at Tacoma Dome • Procession lasted several hours • Mostly law enforcement in attendance • Major media event • Coordinated in a week • respectful • safe • secure • coordinated • financed • Taking care of city hall • Councilmembers and employees • Family and friends

17. Public Safety Officers Benefit Program (federal) Killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty $311,810; www.psob.gov Washington State DRS www.drs.wa.gov $214,000 + monthly stipend or lump sum % of vested amount Washington State L&I (www.lni.wa.gov) monthly stipend up to $4,625 medical benefits immediate benefit of $3,855 burial expenses benefit of $7,709 Survivor Benefits

18. Survivor Benefits (Continued) Taser Foundation • $2,500 lump sum • www.taserfoundation.org American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens (AFPCC) • miscellaneous benefits • www.policeinfor@aphf.org COPS Foundation • college/educational benefits • www.COPS.org -

19. 8 Months Later • The new normal • Keeping busy is easy in Lakewood • PTSD concerns • Focus returning to economic development • CALEA • Police Chief’s health • Record growth and redeployments at Joint Base Lewis-McChord • police-military partnerships • garrison-city relationship

20. Lessons Learned • Civilian control of police – when and how to assert during a crisis • Managing the media • It’s sometimes ok to say “no” • social media – the way of the future • Employee wellness • Looking out for leaders and subordinates alike • Peer support • Managing volunteers • Continuously assess workload • Maintaining communications with department in crisis • Assign liaison early • More is better With Officer Benjamin Kelly, Seattle PD

21. Q & A