Lakewood community honors fallen officers on 13th anniversary of their deaths

LAKEWOOD, WA — The Lakewood community honored four fallen officers Tuesday morning who were killed 13 years ago in the line of duty.

On Nov. 29, 2009, Maurice Clemmons walked into a coffee shop and shot four officers preparing for their shifts. Sgt. Mark Renninger, officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards.

RELATED: Court tosses conviction of Lakewood cop killer's accomplice

"It's a little somber to be here knowing what happened 13 years ago," Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro said. "I was there that day and saw the aftermath, so to be here again, it's a somber sight."

Pausing to remember the victims, police and community members stood in the snow to change the flags at the fallen officer memorial. Clemmons was killed by a Seattle police officer two days after he shot the officers in Lakewood.

A re-trial is now underway for Darcus Allen, who is believed to be the man who drove the getaway car for Clemmons.

RELATED: Re-trial underway for driver accused in Lakewood police murders

Investigators said Allen drove Clemmons to the scene and waited as Clemmons ambushed the officers at a coffee shop, and drove him away.

Allen was initially convicted of four counts of aggravated murder for his role in the crime, but the state Supreme Court overturned Allen’s 420-year sentence in 2015 and ruled he did not receive a fair trial due to "prejudicial misconduct" by the prosecutor in the case.

"The loss never goes away, it gets easier, but the loss is still there," Zaro continued.

Every year in honor of the four officers, the Lakewood Police Department hosts its annual Fallen Officer Food and Blood Drive.

This year the goal was to raise 15,000 pounds of food and $15,000 to support the Emergency Food Network.

People can donate nonperishable food items throughout the week by dropping them in bins stationed at five locations:

• Lakewood Police Department, 9401 Lakewood Drive SW
• Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW
• Classy Chassis, 7701 Custer Road SW
• Classic Coffee, 4828 Bridgeport Way West
• Blue Steele Coffee, 11401 Steele Street S