Slain Officers, Person of Interest Identified

Passing on two press releases from Pierce County. Between the four officers, 9 children have lost a parent today:

City of Lakewood Identifies Slain Police Officers

Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar publicly identified the four slain police officers after an extensive and very difficult notification process.
"All four of our slain officers had been with this department since it started five years ago. Sergeant Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards were police veterans when they started and all have been outstanding professionals. This is a very difficult time for our families and our officers. The families will have many challenges ahead of them and we ask that their privacy be respected. Please keep our families and Lakewood Police in your prayers."

Mark Renninger

Sergeant Mark Renninger, age 39 with thirteen years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.

Ronald Owens

Officer Ronald Owen, age 37 with twelve years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a former wife and a daughter.

Tina GriswoldÂ

Officer Tina Griswold, age 40 with fourteen years of law enforcement experience. She is survived by her husband and two children.

Greg Richards

Officer Greg Richards, age 42 with eight years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.
Those interested in supporting the families of the slain officers are welcome to make a donation through the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG) Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579, Lakewood, WA 98499. Please visit their website for more information visit www.lpig.us.

Since the crime occurred just outside of Lakewood city limits, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department has jurisdiction. Those with information on the crime should call 866-977-2362.

Regarding: Person of Interest identified in Murder of Lakewood Police Officers

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has identified a person of interest in the November 29, 2009, murder of four Lakewood Police officers. The person of interest is Maurice Clemmons, a 37 year old black male from the Parkland area of Pierce County. Clemmons is 5'8" tall, 235 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, and a mole on his left cheek.

Clemmons has extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft. He has also recently been arrested and charged in Pierce County for Assault 3rd on a Police Officer and for Rape of a Child.

Clemmons should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. If the public has any information on his whereabouts, call any tips to the Sheriff's Department tip line at 1-866-977-2362.

For official updates, check the Pierce County website.

edited to add: photo of person of interest can be found at the News Tribune site, here
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2009/11/29/suspect-sought-in-lakewo...