Lakewood community marks 14th anniversary of police ambush with annual food, blood drive

The Lakewood community honored four fallen officers Wednesday morning who were killed 14 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.

Ever since that tragic incident, the Lakewood community has communed for an annual food and blood drive, turning that loss into something positive for people in need.

Every November in remembrance of Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Ronnie Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards we ask the community to help us honor their lives by collectively giving back through our annual food drive and blood drive,” the LPD wrote on their Facebook page. “In the years since their deaths, we have watched their children grow up, and offered support to their families as they try to move forward in their respective lives while balancing grief and sadness at futures stolen from them. It has not been easy.

The accused getaway driver for Clemmons pled guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.

Investigators said Darcus Allen drove Clemmons to the scene, waited as Clemmons ambushed the officers at a coffee shop, and drove him away. Clemmons was killed two days later in a confrontation with a Seattle police officer.

Allen has maintained he did not know what Clemmons was planning to do, but prosecutors accused him of being an accomplice who helped plan the murders and tampered with evidence by deleting all calls and texts to Clemmons on a burner phone.

The food drive ran from 6 a.m. and ended at 5:30 p.m.

A blood drive will be held at the LPD station starting at 8:30 p.m. this evening.