4 Police Officers Shot Dead in Lakewood Area
UPDATE: Find out why a KOMO News reporter talked to Clemmons last year for a story - as did a KING reporter. His family also admits to helping him escape to Seattle yesterday, saying he has a bullet wound in his stomach; and Leschi residents will be given flyers tonight on the search there. Details after the jump.
Ed Troyer talks to media near crime scene
Previous Update: Reported Clemmons sightings in the University District and Beacon Hill have turned up nothing. After noon, police descended on the Cowen Park/Ravenna area and were following a trail of blood, though that ended inconclusively. Police are also now looking for a car registered to Clemmons' wife.
Previous Update: After an hours-long standoff in Leschi, police say shooting suspect Maurice Clemmons is not inside the home and may still be on the loose. The four officers have also been identified, and the reward has jumped to $120,000.
Four so-far unidentified police officers were shot dead in a Parkland/Lakewood area coffee shop Sunday morning, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Dept. Spokesperson Ed Troyer was not yet able to say which police agency the four were from, though it may be Lakewood. [Update: the three male and one female officers were all from the Lakewood Police Dept.]
"It was just a flat out ambush," Troyer said. "It appears they were doing paperwork and getting ready for their shift to start. The four of them are known by everybody here..." he said, referring to officers investigating the deaths. He asked for the public's help to identify the single suspect, who walked into the Forza Coffee shop at 11401 on South Steele Street near McChord Air Force Base around 8:15 a.m. [Update: Police now say they're looking for a Pierce County man in his 30s in connection with the shooting.] "We have nothing to link this to the Seattle shooting," Troyer added at a press briefing, speaking about the recent Halloween night ambush killing of SPD Officer Tim Brenton.
There were apparently two customers and two employees in the shop who witnessed the shooting, Troyer said. There was one shooter who may have had an accomplice in his getaway, although the shooter left the area on foot, he said. A $10,000 reward is already being offered. The News Tribune reports the uniformed officers were sitting in the coffee shop with their computers, wearing protective vests, when the shooter came in. The officers were targeted - "an execution" said Troyer, who urged the public to use caution in approaching any possible suspects.
UPDATE: Each police victim had children and had been with the Lakewood force since its creation in 2004. They are (left to right, clockwise):
- Ronald Owens. Owens, 37, had 12 years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a former wife and a daughter.
- Tina Griswold. Griswold, 40, had 14 years of law enforcement experience. She is survived by her husband and two children.
- Sgt. Mark Renninger. Renninger, 39, had 13 years of law enforcement experience and is survived by a wife and three children.
- Greg Richards. Richards, 42,had eight years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.
UPDATE: The Times has a lengthy run-down of Clemmons criminal past. It's extensive, and includes a pardon from then-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
Although cops aren't yet calling him a suspect, they've certainly narrowed down their search to someone who might have committed such a terrible crime.
Clemmons is a violent man who's clearly not well. He just recently got bailed out of jail where he'd been for months on a pending second-degree child rape charge.
Maurice Clemmons, sought for shootings.
In the past year cops have been called out to his home twice. In the first instance in May, the incident ended with Clemmons punching a sheriff's deputy in the face and getting cuffed for seven assault violations.
In the last, Pierce County cops were called to his home after Clemmons forced his wife and young relatives to strip naked in the middle of the night. In the police report, the Times says officers noted that Clemmons told his family that he was Jesus, the world was ending soon and that every family needed to be naked together for at least five minutes on Sunday.
Also in May, Clemmons' sister told police that her brother was paranoid, saying the Secret Service was after him because of a letter he'd written to President Obama. Other family members confirmed the craziness, saying Clemmons had told them he could fly and expected Obama to identify him as the messiah.
Clemmons moved here from Arkansas five years ago, reports the Times. There he was facing hundreds of years on multiple felony convictions when then-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee commuted his sentence. It's not known now why Huckabee made the decision back then, but the Times managed to track down a prosecuting attorney familiar with Clemmons who said this was the "day he'd been dreading for a long time."
Witnesses including two shop employees said the shooter walked in, pulled out a handgun, and began firing at the officers, collected around one of a half dozen tables in the shop in a short strip mall just a few blocks outside Lakewood in Pierce County. At least one of the officers apparently was able to return fire before dying, likely wounding the suspect.
Troyer said that in wake of the Seattle shooting and now the Lakewood ambush, police officers will have to be more wary; even having coffee is a vulnerable position for cops, he said, who typically are aware of who comes through a door by sitting with their backs to the wall. That should become something of a rule for officers today, he said.
Additional reporting by Caleb Hannan
Near the Parkland crime scene
UPDATE: SeattleCrime.com reports that SWAT officers have surrounded a home in Leschi that may be owned by a relative of Clemmons.
It sounds like a woman might have dropped off someone matching Clemmons' description at the house earlier today.The home, at 30th and Yesler, is only a block away from where Christopher Monfort allegedly gunned down Officer Timothy Brenton. A strange, possibly completely coincidental link between two separate attacks on police.It appears police may be in contact with their subject. They believe he is wounded and still armed.
UPDATE: When police entered the trailer where they thought Clemmons may be hiding they found it empty.
Clemmons is now a suspect with a murder warrant, no longer just a person of interest. Seattle police have detained multiple people, including some they say assisted Clemmons.
Although police say he is wounded and may already be dead, they're also urging caution. If still on the run, Clemmons is considered armed and dangerous.
UPDATE: University of Washington faculty, staff and students received e-mails this morning warning them that Clemmons may have been spotted on campus.
But according to the police scanner the area has now been cleared. As has "the jungle," a homeless encampment on Beacon Hill where Clemmons was also reportedly spotted. As of 12:30 p.m., police were concentrating their search around Cowen Park where a blood trial was reportedly spotted near a men's room.
The scanner is now abuzz for officers to be on the lookout for a green 1997 Mazda Millenia with Washington license plate 208-SSX, apparently registered to Clemmons' wife. The car is possibly headed for Arkansas, police say.
Meanwhile, TechFlash is calling the still-ongoing search for Clemmons a "watershed moment for the use of Twitter and other social media tools in Seattle journalism," as everyone from Times executive editor David Boardman (@dboardman) to ordinary Leschi residents Tweet the latest updates.
UPDATE: KOMO News reports this afternoon that Clemmons' family drove him to Seattle yesterday to aid his getaway, and that he was suffering from a bullet wound to the stomach, which, if untreated, could prove fatal; Leschi residents tonight will be given these flyers regarding the SPD search in that neighborhood overnight; also, KOMO reporter Travis Mayfield spoke with Clemmons last August.
Lakewood PD spokesperson Heidi Hoffman, tearfully speaks to reporters
Clemmons was landlord of a Lakewood home that caught fire after a fireworks accident. To Mayfield, Clemmons apparently said these now chilling words: "A life, you can't never get that back. But property, that can always be replaced."
Travis Mayfield Clemmons on KOMO News last August.
And in this report is a similar 2008 KING interview with Clemmons by Linda Brill:
56 comment(s)
Crystal says:
This is so shocking and horrific. My prayers go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of these officers. There is no justification or rationalization for this.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 11:22AM
bb says:
Good Lord. I'm so sorry for the families. I hate guns, then again this makes me want to get one and shoot this slimebag.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 11:22AM
Anonymous says:
WE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY ON THE EAST COAST SEND OUR REGUARDS TO OUR FALLEN BROTHERS.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 12:26PM
Dude says:
Before we start feeling sorry for the officers killed, let make sure that they weren't dirty cops. I have absolutely no sympathy for cops that abuse their power.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 1:24PM
david stoesz says:
Ignore the troll.
Please don't sully the memory of those officers by engaging with "Dude."
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 2:15PM
andrew says:
IS THERE A DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOOTER OR POSSIBLE VEHICLE?
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 2:18PM
Heroes on Patrol says:
First and foremost, I have little words for what has happened with these executions. Just amazing. Secondly.. dude @ 1:24pm... wow, so deeply inappropriate. Who is talking they could have been dirty cops, and if they were and im pretty confident they were randomly singled out... NO ONE, deserves this type of ending of their life, even you deserve better. Abusing power and an officer deserves to be brutally executed while eating with his or her friends? there is nothing they could have done to deserve what they and their families and their town had to endure this morning. Its obvious you have had contact with those of us in law enforcement in your life for doing something you shouldnt have and have decided to live life as a victim. Id bet your story matches no one elses and your anger would be better directed at your self for your own actions and not here where people are showing support for this vicious murder.
My heart goes out to the family and this idiot "dude" who posted earlier, yes, there might be a few of him out there, but focus now on healing and bringing these murderous monsters to justice
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 2:21PM
Tony says:
Dude, you're an idiot. God Bless the families of these officers. I pray that God will comfort you. Right now is a time to know that Jesus is holding you and God will reveal His plan for this event to take place in your life. And "Dude", I'll pray for you too.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 2:38PM
Dude says:
Hey I understand that what happened is terrible. I'm not trolling, just saying that if an officer abuses their power (assault, wrongful arrest, killing innocents, racially motivated harassment, etc) I don't feel as sorry for them. Right now it seems that the media hasn't fully looked into their backgrounds. We don't really know what happened besides 4 people have been killed. Sorry for my pragmatism :-P
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 2:52PM
mikey says:
Dude,
You're a Douchebag. Your asinine comments assume the officers may be corrupt. Crawl back in your hole you pathetic little slug.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 4:57PM
The "Dude" task force says:
Dude, honestly what we are all wondering now is where you were at the time of the shooting. We havent yet and we will taken the time to check you out too! Its just like the perp to throw out curve balls to avoid discovery. So again, where were you?
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 5:16PM
R U Kiddin me here says:
Hey "DUDE" go suck it! for the families - both blood and blue. Our hearts are with you.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 6:36PM
The United States of America says:
"Dude": These fallen officers would have defended your life. Please leave me now.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 6:51PM
BOYCOT ARKANSAS says:
OMG I can not beleive that Huckabee had this guy in custody and commuted his sentence.. That blows me away. He should pay for allowing this scum to walk the streets. I cant wait to hear what this Governor of Arkansas has to say now and should be brought to trial right along with this messiah. Dude.. feel like a heel yet? .. hope you sleep horribly tonite. You probably have already joined the child rapist, messiah's online fan club. Go Seattle.. blue to blue.. good work! Governor Huckabee, what do you have to say for yourself, you sir have a LOT of explaining to do.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 7:16PM
sgf2 says:
Dude, how noble of you for already making an excuse for this cop killer. Shame on you. Please get off your soap box.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 7:45PM
Dude says:
The focus here shouldn't be on me. I'm just a concerned citizen. You guys are understandably emotional right now. What we should be doing is finding out the motivation for these attacks. That means looking into the backgrounds of the officers as well as the current "person of interest". Please stop bitching.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 8:00PM
Tony says:
Dude, you placed the focus on yourself. That was your intention, anyways. You've accomplished your goal. Now apologize. Next, get off your computer. Spend as much time on your knees before the Lord as you do looking for blogs to post your idiotic comments on. I'm still praying that you'll be delivered from your stupidity. God bless, anyways.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 8:11PM
Chuck says:
Almost nothing justifies taking a life, and certainly like was done here. However the question of whether these were dirty cops also came to my mind when I first heard this. On the job fatalities for cops is very low compared to many other jobs, especially ones like construction. It makes you wonder why they were targeted. We've had several in our area caught with marijuana grow houses and drug distribution networks etc. Involving yourself in those types of things certainly opens up a variety of possibilities. I don't think we will ever find out. Right or wron police always protect their own.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 9:03PM
Tony says:
HELLO!!!!! Do you idiots (Chuck and Dude) understand what happened here??!!! Four human beings, with families at home, were gunned down in cold blood. 9 children are left without a parent. Several family members and friends are now left with a void in their heart. Something that NO ONE should ever have to experience. Especially a child. I'm not the sharpest spoon in the drawer, but I know that this is a tragedy. I'm outraged by the focus being turned from these 4 humans, into the focus of you two idiots and your desires to turn this into a justified homicide. I feel like I need to pray more for you than the officers and their family. That's sad.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 9:56PM
Tony says:
HELLO!!!!! Do you idiots (Chuck and Dude) understand what happened here??!!! Four human beings, with families at home, were gunned down in cold blood. 9 children are left without a parent. Several family members and friends are now left with a void in their heart. Something that NO ONE should ever have to experience. Especially a child. I'm not the sharpest spoon in the drawer, but I know that this is a tragedy. I'm outraged by the focus being turned from these 4 humans, into the focus of you two idiots and your desires to turn this into a justified homicide. I feel like I need to pray more for you than the officers and their family. That's sad.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 9:57PM
Charles Manson says:
LOL Dude and Chuck are more insane than me! :-)
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 10:29PM
hivelozity says:
blogsights are already siezing opportunities to somehow link obamas policies/race to this abhorrent tragedy...unreal...huckabee was a republican you right-wing morons...he let this maggot shooter go...prayers to the families...and while we're at it...leave the prez out of every event that occurs in this nation...its sickening.
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 @ 11:33PM
dude support says:
@ the rest of the idiots who think the world is perfect and there is no corruption in it at all: WTF grow a brain.
WHAT if they were corrupt? officials say they were "specifically targeted" so something must have happened in order for this kind of response.
and i think it kind of funny that the cops and the times already have a full rap sheet down on a "person of interest" so soon after the incident occurred. if it was civilian on civilian, that kind of info could have taken weeks, months, years to acquire. but since the pigs have to watch out for their fellow "gang members", they want to go after whoever did this NAO and drop everything else.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 1:15AM
Dude friend says:
I totally agree with Dude. Thanks for yr comment Dude.
It is good to question the official version...
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 4:01AM
Saddness says:
Go ahead and try to tell me that this is not racially motivated! How long are we going to tolerate these types of racists in our country? new Black Panthers, Nation of Islam...Come on Americans, the cold-blooded murder of our officers in uniform is only one symptom of the troubles that racist blacks and other extremists are using to excuse and explain murder of white people. We don't owe them anything and we need to stop giving them things becasue we feel guilty about what happened 100 years ago. Stop the racisim by getting the racial blacks and muslims out of here!!!
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 5:23AM
anti-dude says:
"Dude", you should also think outside the box. Maybe the officers were onto something relevant to his case. If it is Clemmons, then you should sit back, relax & take some serious notes in. He has paranoia and does not think properly. He was probably in his own little world when he committed this act. If you read some of the things about this guy, he even stated that the "Secret service" was after him. Thats pretty bad.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 7:22AM
Tony says:
Yeah, they WERE specifically targeted you moron. Because they WERE COPS!! It wouldn't have mattered whether they were police officers, sherriff deputies or state patrolman/women. They were targets because they wore blue. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, wearing blue. This man thought he was the judge, jury and executioner. Even this cowardly murderer will get a fair trial.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 9:13AM
PW Lubbock, TX says:
We here in Lubbock, TX are saddened by the loss of four of your police officers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and the police dept. For you idiotic people that have no respect for law enforcement call people like Clemmons and Charles Manson next time you need a police officer. These officer go out everyday to protect and serve, to also protect scumbags like Dude, why don't you get a life. Why the He-- am I even wasting time on printing your name. God Bless all Police Officer and their families everywhere. I am the mother of a Texas Police Officer.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 10:39AM
Seudo Nimo says:
Hey Dude:
It's the wrong time to be talking about police abuse. The suspect is charged with raping a 13 year-old, and has a long history in Arkansas. Save your police abuse comments for articles about police abuse. Have some respect and decency for those that protect your person and property every day, and for their children, families and friends.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 11:05AM
Lee says:
Hats off for the Fallen Four, their friends and families:
Catatrophic events can be polarizing. Dude mentioned the possibility that the LakeWood officers got payback; this is not a healthy attitude. If people got paid back for the evil done, the earth's population would consist of new-borns. We as a people must have compassion on the survivors, the families of these officers, because they are left with a significant void in their lives. We must also pray and have compassion for the law enforcement personnel, who now will be on edge, prepared for the risk of random violence. Accordingly, we civilians must make sure we afford officers with respect and compassion, for they are all potential targets. Compassion, yes compassion of Christ for the families, friends, associates, and impacted communities, and not blame, nor finger pointing, is the only emotion that is appropriate at this time.
Finally, we must leave room to be compassionate towards the family of the perpetrator: Once a person is duely prosecuted, and punished to the extent of the law, we must remember to lay down our arms and care for ALL survivors of this wicked act.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 12:01PM
Tony says:
God bless you, Lee. You said it all. Thank you. To everyone else, enough said.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 3:16PM
braddaman says:
everyone needs to chill. is it tragic? absolutely. was there motive? was this guy just plain nuts? after you're done mourning, we should all look at this from all different perspectives. personally, I think there are more corrupt cops than most folks would like to admit - this is a travesty. cops are trained to uphold the law, not take advantage of it. I'm not saying these 4 cops were of that sort, but what if they were? does it warrant them dying like this? HELL NO. but if they were targeted, we should be asking questions. that is all.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 3:29PM
Ignatius says:
"braddaman says: '...does it warrant them dying like this? HELL NO. but if they were targeted, we should be asking questions. that is all. Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 3:29PM'"
There is a time and place for everything. OF COURSE their entire histories will be scrutinized to determine if they had logical or unnatural enemies. Now is not the time to insist on investigating the victims.
Can you imagine if you or the other self-revealed pus nozzles had made this suggestion about a nun, a little girl, a young boy, a black woman, or a gay combat veteran? You'd be roasted and kicked to the curb. Where you belong.
My heart and mind dwell on the families mourning the loss of their beloved. The officers received their wings yesterday.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 4:41PM
Sherri says:
I am deeply disturbed by the acts of the shooter. This guy is sick. His entire HISTORY is sick...and to think, even after being let go from a life sentace, we let him go after RAPING A 13 YEAR OLD. it's disgusting.
I'm so glad to see all the bloody materials and sightings etc. are being REPORTED. I'ts obvious that we as a community want this individual brought to justice. The few people that are saying this is justified because the victims were POLICE OFFICERS...I have just one thing to say to you: I hope that someday your life is saved by a police officer, so that you may appreciate that they are paid to put their lives down for ours, and so that you may regret the words you've spoken. If you are not IA, I don't want to hear it from YOU, and no one else does on these comment strings.
Thank you to the 5 local fallen heros of the last month, and to ALL HEROS that have or continue to serve us. Thank You.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 6:41PM
Tony says:
God bless you, Lee. You said it all. Thank you. To everyone else, enough said.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 8:32PM
Voice of Reason says:
RE DUDE:
First and foremost, the victims of this atrocity were labeled at targets most likely due to the close proximately of the coffee shop and the Subjects house (less than a half a mile). Secondly as for your comments on corrupt cops, statements like that are a result of a coward (YOU) hiding behind the anonymity of the internet!!!
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 9:26PM
Sean says:
Who ever has helped him is also a monster and should go to prison. They also are evil and an affront to everything about us here that is good.
Our lawmakers should also get on it and amend the situation to prevent judges from setting bail for a certain class of criminals. Our system allowed this and it is inexcusable and does not reflect our will to be safe.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 10:24PM
Anonymous says:
Voice of Reason,
You may want to change your anonymous nickname since it does not really fit when you sound like your coming unglued. The question about police corruption was a valid question based on the info when the story first broke and we still don't know the complete story. This was a wildly unusual event. A single person coming in and shooting/killing four armed police officers. It sounded as much like a hit job as anything I've seen reported. I've never heard of anything like that ever happening and I doubt you have either.
What bothers me is all the Kool-aid drinkers spouting the police lines about all police being selfless heroes putting their lines on the line every day for the public good. I think the phrase is "this thin blue line is all that separates you from chaos and crime" is one of the favorites. The fact is corruption and misconduct is widespread and the police fraternity causes the good cops to defend the bad ones. If the public (as reflected in these comments) took these problems seriously (and didn't believe all the police propogated PR) it might be possible to get them to actually police themselves.
The fact is the type of personality this job often attracts is someone with a chip on their shoulder who wants a badge to back it up. Rather than viewing thmeself as a public servant they view the public with disdain and view themselves as above the law. The fact is you are far more likely as a law abiding citizen to be abused by a police officer than have one "save your life". There is virtually no check on a police officers actions unless it causes significant public outrage.
A friend of mine in banking was in a branch that was robbed. She told the police officer (an old aquantance from school) she did not witness the robbery. Right before trial the officer told her they were sure they got the right guy but that she had to confirm his identity in court. Under duress (and under oath) she did. That was wrong and undermined the whole judicial process but she was put under tremendous pressure with little time to consider the ramifications. I think this is a shockingly common event. Just google "Pottawattamie County, Iowa, v. McGhee and Harrington". These guys were deliberately framed (25 years in prison) by the police and prosecuters who (unless a new precedent is set) are immune to prosecution for their misconduct.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 30 2009 @ 11:24PM
Greg Collins says:
"Dude"...
What the heck is the matter with you? What's supposed to be on the news? "'Four Lakewood officers shot dead, but no one knows if they're dirty or not...'?"
Get a life, man. No one deserves to be shot and killed by some freak in a coffee shop. Those officers have families and were serving our community. Have some respect.
R.I.P.
Posted On: Tuesday, Dec. 1 2009 @ 9:51AM
Chuck says:
Greg,
I don't think I ever critized the news report. I just said it was such an unusual event that one could resonably wonder if there was something more behind what happened.
I also never said they deserved to be shot. I see you take your Kool-aid very personally.
By the way maybe you could enlighten me in how they were serving their community. It sounded to me like they were just having breakfast together. With all that training and the latest guns you would think they would have done better with four versus one sicko. The truth is if you take away the hanging out and talking there isn't a lot of other work left in law enforcement. Granted the pay isn't great but neither is the effort from most.
I see no need to speak more respectfully about law enforcement than they deserve. This past summer a lady coming out of a night club was pushed down a flight of stairs by our "finest". The officer then arrested her for battery on a police officer. He did not realize there was a video camera over the stairs. When it came out that he actually battered the lady and then filed a false police report he was docked one vacation day. By the same standard they would probably charge this guy with illegal discharge of a firearm.
Actually when I think about it I realize this is a time when law enforcement truely did serve the community. They each essentially took a bullet that might of otherwise hit some law abiding citizen. A truely noble thing thing that they certainly did not mean to do. Now since this creep is a cop killer the police will use their full resources to either bring him in or kill him.
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 2 2009 @ 1:54AM
Tom says:
Its funny how some of you first come to the conclusion that these were dirty cops. That right there shows your mentality. If you actually knew these police officers, like some of us do, you would really feel stupid. Are there dirty cops out there. Sure, just look at New Orleans PD... they have plenty. But you have to remember dirty cops are a very small percentage of the whole and these 4 were on the opposite side of the spectrum. They helped people even off-duty. Maybe your idea of a dirty cop is just a tough cop. If that is the case you better thank God you live in the US and not outside of it! The way I see some idiots act around cops and disrespect them... in some other countries that I have been to, you would be picking your teeth off the ground. Next time you think "abusive force" try looking at the other end of the stick.
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 2 2009 @ 8:39AM
Chuck says:
Tom,
It's funny your inability to read and comprehend. There is no comment in this thread stating that these cops were dirty. There was just some initial speculation whether they could have been (since this was such a wildly unusual event). My subsequent posts were to debunk this myth that most cops are heros out to protect the citizenry. Now what is funny is you stating as fact that only a tiny percentage of cops are dirty. You would have no way of knowing that and the incidents I've seen tend to make me believe otherwise. Even "good" cops seem to cover for bad ones and there is no other profession that would know better how to break the law and not get caught. That makes me think what I've seen/heard is only the tip of an iceberg. I don't think there is anything I've staed you can refute. It appears the best you can do is say almost all cops are good and these ones were especially because they helped people when they weren't paid to do so. I help people but I've never been paid to (when your paid it's called a job). I would consider helping others more as being a reasonable person rather than being heroic but then again I'm not a cop.
On a side note I see they did get the guy. How could I guess they were more likely to kill the guy than bring him in? I had not heard he took one of the police weapons at the coffee shop. It didn't even sound like he went all the way up to the police officers since one was shooting out the door after him. Not meaning to lose sight of all speculation so how did Clemmons get one of their weapons? Did the officer plant it on him after he shot him? Hmmm, makes you wonder.
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 2 2009 @ 7:50PM
PW Lubbock, TX says:
Chuck you are an idiot and a moron. I hope all of the people of Washington State don't think like you do. You are giving your State a bad name. How the hell could a cop that has been shot plant the gun on the bad man. You have been watching too many movies. Obviously not good ones at that.
Posted On: Thursday, Dec. 3 2009 @ 8:18AM
Chuck says:
I see your from Texas so I'll try to write real slow. The policeman who shot and killed Clemmens said Clemmens was reaching for a gun he took from the cops he (Clemmens)shot at the coffee shop (he gave that as the reason for shooting and killing him). The cop who killed Clemmens was not one of the ones Clemmens shot at the coffee shop. I just assumed you knew dead people don't plant guns (my mistake).
It seemed odd that Clemmens had time to take a gun from the officers at the coffee shop when one of those officers was firing at him as he ran off.
You know the cops all wanted to kill this guy. If they found there wasn't a weapon on him after he was shot and killed I guess they had a spare one to plant.
If your still having trouble understanding let me know and I'll try to write even more slowly.
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 12:08AM
satan says:
see you all in hell
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 4:32AM
PW Lubbock, TX says:
Hey Chuck proud of you, you write good English. I have watched Cops several times when it has been in Washington State, boy you think Texas has rednecks, some of you guys are dumber than a box of rocks. Especially the ones that live out in the sticks. (Not all of you that live out in the sticks) You still give your state a bad name with your ignorance.
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 8:43AM
James says:
If the main stream fake media doesn't address the apocalypse problems bubbling up such as those on shittycops.blogspot the killings are going to just keep happening. People are mad at the double standards such as those heaped on Freeway Ricky Ross by Oliver North and other corrupt d.e.a./c.i.a.Non racist,Constitutional police and military need to become Oath Keepers and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition in mass for everyone sake for the common good of all.
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 12:42PM
Chuck says:
Hey Tex I didn't know you were a cops show junkie. That explains a lot. I'm sorry I have trouble writing slow but it's still better than your sense of geography. I live right next to Seattle (just 3000 miles out)
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 8:36PM
bob says:
omg.....wtf is wrong with u people???? they were shot and they did not deserve it!!! they serve and protect us! my simpothy goes out to the family and friends and the force! the wolf and the community did a great job to support in the town center. dude go eat shit!
Posted On: Friday, Dec. 4 2009 @ 9:16PM
PW Lubbock, TX says:
Sorry Bob for even responding to people like Chuck and Dude. It infuriates me when people bad mouth the police. These four officers did not deserve to die. No officer deserves to die especially in this way. Just imagine what this world would be like without our great police officers. Enough said my thoughts and prayers go out to these officers families. God Bless and take care of officers everywhere. Merry Christmas ya'll.
Posted On: Saturday, Dec. 5 2009 @ 8:02AM
If you defend this scumbag, eat shit and die! says:
If you are a typical naive clueless Seattle white liberal progressive, and you waste any time defending or feeling sympathy for this monster or any of his criminal associates, then I hope you get violently attacked by the very black criminals that you love to coddle and make excuses for.
http://tinyurl.com/no5knk
From the article "List of 2008 homicides in Seattle" from the Seattle PI
selected from the list of the 28 Seattle homicides in 2008....
Allen Joplin, Jan. 4 -- black killed by black
De'Che Morrison, Jan. 10 -- black killed by black
Maurice "Moe" Allen Jr., Jan. 26 -- black killed by black
Degene Barecha, Jan. 30 -- black killed by black
Perry Henderson, Feb. 6 -- black killed by black
Stephan Dwaine Stewart, April 2 -- black killed by black
Eldora Earlycutt, July 4 -- black killed by black
James Paroline, July 10 -- white killed by black
Troy Peters, July 22 -- black killed by black
Pierre Lapoint, Aug. 5 -- black killed by black
Jane Kariuki, Oct. 16 -- woman of unknown race killed by black man named Christel D. Murphy
Quincy S. Coleman, Oct. 31 -- black killed by black
Edward McMichael, the "Tuba Man", Nov. 3 -- white killed by multiple blacks
Nathaniel Lee Thomas, Nov. 23 -- black killed by black
So by my count blacks (8% of Seattle) were the killers in at least half (that's at least 50%) of the murders in the Seattle area in 2008. At least five of the other murderers were latinos.
The numbers are actually worse for 2009 and approach the 85% mark.
Of the 27 officers that were shot and killed by criminals in the last 20 years in King and Pierce county, 21 of them were shot by black men, even though black men make up less than 6% of the population.
Posted On: Saturday, Dec. 5 2009 @ 1:31PM
James says:
Its very sad that anyone is killed or wronged in any way. The sad reality is that if police keep getting away with murder and other crimes because they have diplomatic immunity or whatever wink & nod policy which allows them to remain corrupt like Oliver North and Ronald Reagan while everyone who is not a cop or not in bed with them gets the railroaded Freeway Ricky Ross treatment. If these problems aren't eliminated from both the police and military the killing will keep happening more and more. The answer to these problems is to stop being an unconstitutional government. Any police and military who value real Constitutional work for the good of all should become Oath Keepers and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition,outnumber and remove the few who side with tyranny and dictatorship and stop being an intimidation war,and panic based government. Peace and prosperity to all with sane government policies instead of the criminally insane. For peace and prosperity to all. If not then all of our lives and deaths will continue to get worse.
Posted On: Saturday, Dec. 5 2009 @ 2:35PM
Cops do not oppress blacks, blacks oppress blacks says:
Black people have very little if anything to fear from the KKK or "white racists".
Blacks have FAR MORE to fear from OTHER BLACK PEOPLE. At least 94% of all blacks murdered here in the U.S.A. are murdered by other blacks. The numbers are pretty much the same for past years, even stretching back to the "bad old days" when the KKK was so much more powerful (as you erroneously imagine it to have ever been), as this Time Magazine article from 1958 attests:
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http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,810262,00.html
National Affairs: THE NEGRO CRIME RATE: A FAILURE IN INTEGRATION
Monday, Apr. 21, 1958
THEY are afraid to say so in public, but many of the North's big-city mayors groan in private that their biggest and most worrisome problem is the crime rate among Negroes.
In 1,551 U.S. cities, according to the FBI tally for 1956, Negroes, making up 10% of the U.S. population, accounted for about 30% of all arrests, and 60% of the arrests for crimes involving violence or threat of bodily harm—murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. In one city after another, the figures—where they are not hidden or suppressed by politicians—reveal a shocking pattern. Items:
New York (14% Negro). Of the prisoners confined in houses of detention last year to await court disposition of their cases, 44% of the males and 65% of the females were Negroes.
Chicago (15% Negro). In 1956 twice as many Negroes as whites—1,366 to 679—were arrested on charges of murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape and robbery.
Detroit (25% Negro). Two out of three prisoners held in the Wayne County jail are Negroes. Last month 62% of. the defendants presented for trial in Recorder's Court were Negroes. Of last year's 25,216 arrests resulting in prosecution, excluding traffic cases, Negroes accounted for 12,919.
Los Angeles (13% Negro). In 1956 Negroes accounted for 28% of all arrests, and 48% of the arrests for homicide, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, larceny and auto theft.
San Francisco (7% Negro). The victims in 896 of last year's 1,564 recorded robbery cases reported that the assailants were Negroes.
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Today in 2009, blacks make up about 26.6% of New York City, but they commit at least 61% of the homicides there, and (in an amazing coincidence) also make up about 61% of the victims there, according to this New York Times interactive homicide map:
http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map
Whites make up about 35% of the population of NYC, but committed only about 7 percent of the homicides.
About 2,500 black people were lynched by white racists in the entire history of the USA.
Approximately 8,000 black people are murdered in the USA every year, according to the US Department of Justice.
At least 94% of the murderers of those black victims are also black, also according to the US Department of Justice.
94% of 8000 = 7520
====================================
icasualties.org
Iraq Coalition Military Fatalities By Year
Year USA UK Other Total
2003 486 53 41 580
2004 849 22 35 906
2005 846 23 28 897
2006 822 29 21 872
2007 904 47 10 961
2008 314 4 4 322
2009 141 1 0 142
Total 4362 179 139 4680
===================================
Afghanistan Coalition Military Fatalities By Year
Year US UK Other Total
2001 12 0 0 12
2002 49 3 17 69
2003 48 0 9 57
2004 52 1 7 60
2005 99 1 31 131
2006 98 39 54 191
2007 117 42 73 232
2008 155 51 89 295
2009 290 95 85 470
Total 920 232 365 1517
=======================================
4680 (TOTAL Coalition fatalities in Iraq for the entire 7 years of war) + 1517 (TOTAL Coalition fatalities in Afghanistan in the entire 9 years war) = 6179
--------------------------
7520 (approximate number of blacks killed by blacks every single year in the USA) - [minus] 6179 (TOTAL number of Coalition fatalities in the entire nine years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined) = 1,341
Thus it is now shown that at least 1,341 more blacks are killed by other blacks in the United States EVERY SINGLE YEAR than the entire number of Coalition fatalities in both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars combined (a period of nine years).
Put another way, in the nine years of the Afghanistan and Iraq war combined, about 6179 Coalition fatalities have occurred (this number includes accidents).
In that same nine year period, in the USA alone, approximately 67,680 black people were murdered by other black people (9 x 7520 = 67,680). That is over TEN TIMES the amount of Coalition soldiers killed in both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars combined. I have not even included non-black victims of blacks murderers. The numbers here represent only black people killed by other black people in the USA over the 9 years of war.
Posted On: Saturday, Dec. 5 2009 @ 3:51PM
Tony says:
Don't you idiots think you're losing the focus of this blog? 4 POLICE OFFICERS WERE KILLED IN COLD BLOOD! Why don't you guys swap phone numbers or email addresses and argue about who did what to who because they were black, white, green or red. This is not about race, color or creed. This is about someone thay obviously had a grudge to settle in his way. Unfortunately the grudge was against another HUMAN being. It would be nice to focus on the actual problem and not your own idiotic beliefs. Focus on the facts. God bless these HUMAN beings and their poor kids. God bless the family of Maurice. Its a never ending cycle of pain.
Now everyone stop bickering. Just be thankful that the grudge wasn't against you. Because it could have been and we'd all be blogging about how this idiot named Chuck and dumass named Dude and the other retards pointing fingers and assuming the cops were corrupt or it was a black/white issue, started a buch of crap in this blog and turned it into and arguing match. How's this: I'm white. You guys are obviously too. You are retards. You guys deserve eachother. Here's a topic you might have fun with: A WHITE gay guy said "Hi" to a BLACK straight guy. OMG! Can you believe that!!! (Now you morons take it from there)
Posted On: Saturday, Dec. 5 2009 @ 4:25PM
Tony says:
And, by the way, I know I spelled some words wrong because I was typing too fast. So start a blog about it!!! Let's call the blog "I'm gonna blog about this guy that spelled some words wrong because he was typing too fast and I don't have a life and spend too much time causing controversy because I'm a moron" blog. Thak yoo. OH, I DID IT AGAIN!! HURRY!! BLOG ABOUT IT!!!
Posted On: Saturday, Dec. 5 2009 @ 4:34PM
person says:
if u really wanna know why do u think these cops were targeted becuz they were in uniforms oplice uniforms u guys shood not be arguing over this ! why would bad people who abuse their power have a great family withhh kids!!!!!!!!!if these cops were not in uniforms they probably wouldnt of gotten shot...why didnt this dude stay in jail the first 20 times he went! he waz supposed to be sentenced to 45 yrs! but no he gets let out at 4 wks!!!!!!!
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 23 2009 @ 12:23AM