On March 16, families of the fallen Lakewood Police Officers, State Legislators, local elected officials and stakeholders announced a campaign to support the constitutional amendment recently enacted by the State Legislature.
One of the four officers killed in the Nov. 29 shooting at a Lakewood coffee shop was Greg Richards, who previously worked for the Kent Police Department.
Richards, a husband and father of three, had started his law-enforcement career in Kent, winning a cadre of good friends, who stayed linked to him after he moved on to become one of the original founding members of the new Lakewood Police Department.
His three Lakewood colleagues who died that day were officers Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens, and Sgt. Mark Renninger. The gunman, Maurice Clemmons, 37, was shot and killed Dec. 1 following a massive manhunt through the Puget Sound region that ended in a confrontation during a traffic stop in Seattle.
During Wednesday’s campaign announcement, Gov. Christine Gregoire spoke forcefully about the need to better equip judges to keep criminals behind bars.
“The tragic death of four Lakewood Police officers in November showed us that judges need an additional tool to make sure dangerous criminals do not end up back on the streets. It is appropriate that the state constitution be amended to provide judges this authority,” said Gov. Christine Gregoire.
HJR 4220, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hope (R-44th) and Christopher Hurst (D-31st) would allow judges discretion to deny bail to accused offenders facing life in prison “upon showing by clear and convincing evidence of a propensity for violence that creates a substantial likelihood of danger to the community.”
“Giving judge’s discretion to deny bail will be an important tool for prosecutors all over the state to use in keeping our communities’ safe,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna. “In the past, violent offenders have ended up back on the street because there was no choice under state law. Now we have another option available to keep violent offenders off our streets.”
The constitutional amendment received the required two-thirds majority by the Legislature, now it requires a majority vote of the people of the state of Washington. Citizens for the Lakewood Law Enforcement Act announced their “Remember Lakewood” campaign to achieve passage of the constitutional amendment at the ballot box this November.
“As a law-enforcement officer, I was shocked and horrified by the death of four police officers in Lakewood. I vowed to do something so I sponsored a measure to deny bail to those offenders that we know are violent and dangerous,” said State Representative Mike Hope (R-44th). “There is no guarantee of safety for our law enforcement officers but this is an important tool.”
In attendance were Gregoire,McKenna, Rep. Mike Hope (R-44th), Rep. Chris Hurst (D-31st), among other local leaders and law enforcement stakeholder groups.
“Law-enforcement groups, prosecutors, sheriff’s, beat cops and victim’s advocacy groups have all expressed support for a change in the constitution,” said State Representative Christopher Hurst (D-31st). “We will campaign vigorously to make sure the people of the state understand how important this is as well.”
The campaign intends to reach out to law enforcement and victim’s advocacy groups to ensure passage of the constitutional amendment. No formal opposition has yet to be announced but representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union publically opposed HJR 4220 in the Legislature.
The Citizens for the Lakewood Law Enforcement Act is made up of the following leaders: Rep. Mike Hope (co-chair), Rep. Christopher Hurst (co-chair),
and King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn (executive director).
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