20,000 expected to attend Tacoma Dome memorial for slain Lakewood police officers

OFFICIAL PROGRAM FOR THE LAKEWOOD OFFICERS MEMORIAL CEREMONY
TUES., DEC. 8, 2009 — 1:00 P.M.

Invocation — Chaplain Dennis Fountain

Welcome Remarks — Mayor Doug Richardson, City of Lakewood

Remarks — Chief Bret Farrar, Lakewood Police Department

23rd Psalm — Chaplains Larry and Diane Huffman, Lakewood Fire Department

Prayer — Chaplain Alve Robbins

Comments by Family and Friends — Assistant Chief Mike Villa, Tukwila Police Department; Assistant Chief Michael Zaro, Lakewood Police Department; Pamella Battersby; Ronda LeFrancois; Austin Richards; Jami-Mae Richards

Memorial Video Presentation

Special Music — Lakewood Officer Gene Sievers, “The Dance”

Remarks — Governor Christine Gregoire

Benediction — Chaplain Alve Robbins

A PDF version of the program is available here — http://columbia.co.pierce.wa.us/crisiscom/crisisimages/pr639.pdf .

TUESDAY MEMORIAL FOR SLAIN OFFICERS WILL AFFECT BUS, TACOMA LINK ROUTES

Sound Transit expects significant delays on Tacoma Link service and several bus routes during the procession and memorial service for slain Lakewood Police Sgt. Mark Renninger, and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards.

On Tuesday, between approximately 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., the memorial procession will travel along South Tacoma Way between the City of Lakewood and the Tacoma Dome and will significantly impact all traffic and travel.

— ST Express Route 574: Significant delays are expected in the Tacoma Dome Station area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m. Route 574 will not serve SR 512 Park & Ride between 9 a.m. and approximately 1 p.m. Route 574 service will be available from Lakewood Station and Lakewood Transit Center, but expect significant delays.

— ST Express Route 594: Significant delays are expected in the Tacoma Dome Station area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m. Route 594 will not serve SR 512 Park & Ride between 9 a.m. and approximately 1 p.m. Route 594 service will be available from Lakewood Station, but expect significant delays.

— Tacoma Dome Station: Significant traffic delays and limited access are expected in the Tacoma Dome Station area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m. Bus riders should expect significant service delays. Bus, Sounder, and Tacoma Link riders should plan for limited access, heavy traffic and possible delays entering and exiting the parking garage.

— Lakewood Station: The SR 512 Park & Ride will be closed from 9 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m., with Sound Transit, Pierce Transit and Intercity Transit buses either limited to or rerouted to Lakewood Station, located at 11424 Pacific Hwy. S.W.

— Tacoma Link: Riders should expect large crowds and significant delays throughout the day from heavy traffic in the Tacoma Dome area.

Those interested in attending the service at the Tacoma Dome or viewing the procession in downtown Tacoma are encouraged to utilize off-site parking lots at Cheney Stadium and the Tacoma Mall where Pierce Transit will operate special limited bus service. Bus service will begin at 10:30 a.m. The last bus will leave from each location at 12 noon. Buses will make return trips immediately following the conclusion of the memorial service.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: PLAN AHEAD FOR SR 512 BACKUPS DURING LAKEWOOD MEMORIAL PROCESSION

Drivers should expect significant delays on westbound SR 512 at the intersection of South Tacoma Way from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tues., Dec. 8 during the memorial procession for four Lakewood police officers. Alternate routes are strongly recommended and motorists should avoid the area if possible. WSDOT will close left turn movements from westbound SR 512 to South Tacoma Way during the procession to reduce traffic backups. Access to I-5 from SR 512 will remain open.

The procession departs McChord Air Force Base at 10 a.m. and travels through Lakewood neighborhoods before ending at the Tacoma Dome for a 1 p.m. memorial service. WSDOT anticipates South Tacoma Way traffic backups onto westbound SR 512 beginning as early as 9:30 a.m. when South Tacoma Way is closed at 108th Street in Lakewood.

Drivers may also experience traffic congestion in both directions of I-5 at SR 512. The 26th Street off-ramp from southbound I-5 at the Tacoma Dome will also be closed during this time.

For more information on the memorial procession route, public transportation options to the Tacoma Dome and memorial service remote viewing sites, visit http://www.piercecountywa.org.

PCTV TO TELEVISE LAKEWOOD POLICE MEMORIAL

Pierce County TV (PCTV) will carry live coverage of the memorial service for the four fallen Lakewood police officers on Tues., Dec. 8. PCTV plans to interrupt its regularly scheduled programming at approximately 1 p.m., when the memorial service is scheduled to begin. The station will replay the memorial service at the following times:

— Weds., Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.

— Thurs., Dec. 10, at 5 p.m.

— Sat., Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.

PCTV televises meetings of the Pierce County Council and the city councils in DuPont, Fife, Orting, Puyallup, Sumner and University Place, as well as the Sound Transit board, the Port of Tacoma Commission and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department board.

PCTV can be found on channel 22 on the Comcast and Click! cable systems, and channel 78 on Rainier Connect.

REMOTE SITES AVAILABLE FOR WATCHING LAKEWOOD OFFICERS MEMORIAL

Remote sites are set up for watching the Lakewood Officers Memorial and processional on Dec. 8. The processional will begin at 10 a.m. and the memorial service is set to start at 1 p.m. All will have live video feed. The remote sites include:

— University of Washington Tacoma, William Philips Hall, 1914 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; Opens at 9 a.m.

— Pacific Lutheran University, Olson Auditorium; Opens at 9 a.m. Parking is at the Church of All Nations, 111 112th St. E. in Parkland. Shuttles will transport to the auditorium beginning at 9:30 a.m. to the beginning of the memorial ceremony at 1 p.m.

— Christian Faith Center, 33645 20th Ave. S., Federal Way; Opens at 9 a.m

MEMORIAL T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER

White or black 100% cotton t?shirts commemorating the fallen police officers are available in any size, child through adult 6X. The cost of the shirts is $12.00 each. All proceeds will be donated to the families of the fallen officers. If you want the shirt mailed, there will be an additional charge of $5.50 for shipping and postage. More information here — http://columbia.co.pierce.wa.us/crisiscom/crisisimages/pr634.pdf .