Today is the day for the Lakewood Officer's Memorial Service

[paulsby]

Estimates are that about 20,000 law enforcement officers alone will attend this. Cops are flying in to Seattle from Bosto, NYPD, a large contingent from Oakland PD, and not only all over the country, but from all over the world. Canada is sending down quite a contingent too.

It is an awesome display of brotherhood and mutual respect.

I suggest that people take a moment of silence to think about the sacrifice these officers made. They were killed not because of the color of their skin, their gender, their political beliefs, their religion, or anything else but the fact that they chose to serve the public. They were singled out for execution because they had made the choice to serve and were sitting innocently sipping lattes, because after all - this is seattle.

Polls show (year after year) that the law enforcement profession is amongst the most respected of all careers, along with teachers, firefighters, etc.

I cannot tell you how many citizens have come up to me (while in uniform) and thanked me and told me how much they respect what we do.

The people of the pacific NW have been wonderful, as has the rest of the nation, in honoring these officers, and also donating to the families.

[Hekate]

1. My respects to their families and colleagues.

You stay safe, now.

Hekate

[JonLP24]

2. You know when you're very familiar with an area it strikes your interest far much more

then normal?

I spent 2/3 years at Ft Lewis so I'm very familiar with the Lakewood area and lived there. It's crazy when you see the photos and you say "I know that place". I'm very familiar with Parkland because I have a good friend from Lakeland, Fl that lives/lived in an apartment off of Steele St and it doesn't surprise me people were shot. It does surprise me police officers were considering this wasn't a case of a suspect fleeing or anything like that.

However Lakewood is a good 30 miles from Seattle but that area is the only place I ever seen drive-thru coffee shops even in apartment complexes.

[Skittles]

3. K&R for the cops

yes indeed

[Mudoria]

4. There was a similar event in Charlotte a few years ago

A couple of policemen were gunned down by a scumbag from behind. Law enforcement officers from around the country showed up to pay their respects. People lined both sides of the streets from the church to the cemetary to show their respect and sympathy for the families. It was quite a moving experience even watching on the tube.