Lakewood Officers Remembered

The recent loss of 4 Lakewood police officers has reminded us how suddenly we can lose people who are most important in our lives. Our own recent experiences with loss have triggered a particularly emotional response as we watched the news develop last week informing the world of a terrible ambush that took place in our own back yard against local law enforcement officers as they prepared for duty.

Our loss occurred last year when Airport Towing CEO Mark Storer and son Brian Storer died in an airplane crash, shocking the towing industry. Local friends and family members gathered to show their support. Neighboring police and fire agencies joined in to provide assistance to those who were suffering the most, along with other towing companies. The family at Airport Towing voiced their appreciation of the support received from public safety officers and others offering assistance.

Now it is our turn to pay back the support given to our family last year by assisting other families who have suffered a similar fate. Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, Greg Richards, and Sgt. Mark Renninger have all left behind children and families, both at home and within the police department. The families have endured terrible suffering as a result of the unexpected void that took them by surprise on a Sunday morning. We have felt a similar pain, and we know there are few, if any, words that will bring comfort to the loved one’s who are grieving.

Airport Towing and local police officers work together on a daily basis. The officers and towers provide a public service, working together at emergency scenes and during non-emergency traffic situations. Our company got it’s first bitter taste of tragedy when King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox was shot and killed in the line of duty in December of 2006. Officer Cox worked with our Burien Towing drivers on a daily basis during his work week. When he was gunned down on a late winter night. Those who knew him and worked with him were heartbroken. It often seems as though the greatest hero’s of our community are those who suffer the most tragic fate. Two years after Deputy Cox died, Airport Towing lost Mark and Brian. Now, the attention has shifted South, to the families of the fallen Lakewood Officers.

A memorial service was held Tuesday at the Tacoma Dome for all four Lakewood police officers. Prior to the service, a procession of nearly 2,000 emergency vehicles led the ceremony from McChord Air Force Base near where the officers were killed in Parkland, past Lakewood Police Department Headquarters, to the memorial site. More than 20,000 people attended the service, including thousands of police officers and firefighters. The emotion filled service lasted more than 3 hours and featured many stories of the lives of the four slain officers. Family members were surrounded by thousands of attendees, including police officers, firefighters, dignitaries, and others. Governor Christine Gregoire was on hand to speak to the crowd, as was House Representative and former King County Sheriff Dave Reichert. More than 700 Canadians mounted police officers attended, as well as hundreds from Chicago, New York, Boston and other places around the world. The scene was awe-inspiring, with an honor guard of multiple agencies leading the way. For the families, the service was just the beginning of a long road ahead.

Several memorial funds have been set up to support the family of the fallen Lakewood officers. You can donate directly through the Lakewood Police Independent Guild here.

Daryl Wilson Named 2008 Tow Person of the Year

Our General Manager earned Washington State’s Tow Person of the Year Award, presented by the Towing and Recovery Association of Washington. Airport Towing GM Daryl Wilson has been an integral part of the company for nearly 9 years, dedicating himself and his time to the family business. He began his career in towing as an entry level driver with no prior experience in the industry and is now key to the success of our day to day operations. We applaud Daryl for his achievement and thank all TRAW members for recognizing him as an exemplary person within the towing industry.

 

2008 Tow Person of the Year Letter of Nomination for the Towing & Recovery Association of Washington

I would like to nominate Daryl Wilson of Airport Towing for the 2008 Tow Person of the Year award. Daryl’s strength and determination are the reasons why our business has been able to remain successful in the wake of the deaths of our CEO, Mark Storer, and his son Brian. 

Mark founded Airport Towing 20 years ago, and always had trouble finding drivers that could meet his expectations. Never has any employee exceeded those high standards as Daryl has. 

Over the past eight years Daryl has become a member of the Storer family. He is our hardest working driver, willing to run calls all day and night, never complaining and always learning. He earned the position of Driver Manager a few years ago, but never slowed down. 

For most of 2008 Daryl was running two drivers shorthanded, which included the help of Mark and Brian. When Daryl learned of their plane crash and sudden deaths, he knew what he had to do. He did everything possible to fill their roles and keep the company afloat. He took on new responsibilities given to him by Mark’s wife and co-owner, Lynette. He was determined to honor the memory of Mark and Brian and to save the family business from the void that was left by his two best drivers, and boss. He was motivated to ensure financial stability for the suffering Storer family, including Brian’s one and two year old sons. Daryl worked tirelessly to handle calls, maintain facilities, service the trucks, run the auctions, and step in wherever necessary. There is no task that Daryl refused to take on. 

Daryl is now our General Manager. Since the crash, he has successfully hired and trained three new drivers, sent four to TRAW towing classes, and has kept our facilities and equipment properly maintained. Without Daryl, these accomplishments would not have been possible. I would like TRAW to honor Daryl for his outstanding dedication to Airport Towing and to our industry. His selfless acts have been our saving grace. 

Thank you,

Jared Storer

Airport Towing