Lakewood Officers Remembered

December 10, 2009

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.

Mark & Brian Storer Memorial Procession 2008Our 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.

Lakewood Police Officers Ronald Owens, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards

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.

King County Sheriff's Officer Steve CoxAirport 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.

Lakewood Police Department Officers Memorial Service Tacoma Dome

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.

VP Climbs Stairs for Charity

April 7, 2009

I was honored to be part of a tremendous fund raising effort for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at this years Big Climb Seattle. With 300 participants on our team, we were able to raise over $40,000 for charity. Together we battled 1,311 stairs and 788 vertical feet of elevation all in the name of our sponsored patient.

Our team was named “Climbing for Caleb” because a 2 year old cancer patient inspired us to give it all we had on a cold Spring morning. Caleb Thorsteinson, nephew of North Highline Firefighter Scott Thorsteinson has been battling cancer for about a year. His family and friends have drawn together to back him in the difficult fight against Leukemia. Airport Towing has a close relationship with the North Highline Fire District as we have donated vehicles to them for training, they performed honor guard services at our founder & sons memorial service, and I personally volunteered for the district and consider the Thorsteinson’s personal friends.

In our effort, team Climbing for Caleb finished 4th out of 234 total teams for time and I personally finished 125/2931 with a time of 10:39. We are hoping to finish first in fund raising as a team. If you would like to support my fundraising efforts or help the progress of the team go to my personal page and fill out a pledge form. All donations go to a great cause and have made a huge difference in many people’s lives.

I was truly honored to be a small part of such a large effort to help fight blood cancers. The event was fun as well as inspiring and I encourage anyone in the Seattle area who appreciates a challenge to sign up for next years event. Climbing the Northwest’s tallest building can be intimidating, as is taking on something as terrifying as cancer, but it is possible if you face it head on and take it one step at a time.

Car Auction 4/3/2009

March 28, 2009

Abandoned Vehicle Auction #388
Auction: APRIL 3, 2009 11:00AM
Previews: APRIL 3, 2009 8:00AM-11:00AM
301 S. Sullivan St, Seattle WA 98108
# Year/Model License/ID Code Description
1 88 BUICK REGAL 163YNR KCS-DWLS-ACC DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
2 86 MERCURY COUGAR 075WSI KCS-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
3 88 BMW 735I 946VWX KCS-HIT&RUN FT & SIDE DAMAGE
4 93 HONDA CIVIC 096VEO KCS-STOLEN DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
5 92 TOYOTA COROLLA 596RHM KCS-WARRANT DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
6 90 NISSAN 240SX 176BBZ (OR) KCS-AB FLAT TIRES, DENTS, SCRATCHES
7 87 NISSAN STANZA 552NDO KCS-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
8 90 ACURA INTEGRA 957MOV KCS-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
9 91 TOYOTA CAMRY 172NXR WSP-STOLEN FT END DAMAGE, DENTS
10 85 MAZDA GLC 946SKV KCS-DWLS FT & REAR DAMAGE, DENTS
11 95 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 425RZX KCS-AB REAR DAMAGE, DENTS
12 74 CHEVROLET K5 BLAZER 224WCK KCS-UNAUTH FLAT TIRES, RUST
13 89 FORD F250 A46967L KCS-NVOL DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
14 95 NISSAN QUEST 967SJP KCS-DWLS DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
15 87 CHEVROLET CAPRICE 523XHD KCS-CAR FIRE FIRE DAMAGE
16 90 CADILLAC DEVILLE 413RCR PLI-AB BROKEN GLASS, INTERIOR DAMAGE
17 85 NISSAN PICKUP A19281J PLI-AB 1 FLAT, DENTS, DINGS
18 83 CHEVROLET 1500 A34076N PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
19 97 MERCURY MOUTAINEER 234JGZ PLI-UNAUTH FT END DAMAGE, DENTS
20 95 FORD BRONCO YBW251 (OR) PLI-UNAUTH LEFT REAR DAMAGE
21 90 ISUZU TROOPER 866PHA PLI-AB 1 FLAT, SIDE DAMAGE, DENTS
22 91 FORD ESCORT 154NOF PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
23 89 MERCEDES 300 133VQT PLI-AB REAR END DAMAGE
24 63 MERCEDES 190 D ADF639 PLI-AB 2 FLATS, RUST
25 90 NISSAN STANZA 937WYV PLI-AB FT END DAMAGE
26 89 BUICK SKYHAWK 710RPV PLI-UNAUTH SIDE DAMAGE, DENTS
27 92 FORD TAURUS 847UJZ WSP-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
28 96 FORD THUNDERBIRD 525XOZ PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
29 96 TOYOTA CAMRY 624TTA PLI-UNAUTH DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
30 88 CHEVROLET BLAZER 602MZY PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
31 93 INFINITY J30 178VZT PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
32 93 ACURA LEGEND 747WGI PLI-AB FT END DAMAGE
33 92 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER 894LVG PLI-UNAUTH FADED PAINT, DENTS, SCRATCHES
34 98 BMW 740I 934WPX WSP-AB FT END & REAR END DAMAGE
35 01 TOYOTA COROLLA 850NYA PLI-AB FT END DAMAGE
36 93 BUICK ROADMASTER 992YND KSC-DWLS DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
37 96 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 2FALP71W8TX178755 KCS-DWLS DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
38 98 HONDA ACCORD 4VSM709 (CA) PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
39 88 PLYMOUTH RELIANT 198YHL PLI-UNAUTH SIDE DAMAGE, DENTS
40 94 FORD TEMPO AF01399 PLI-UNAUTH SIDE DAMAGE, DENTS
41 99 FORD TAURUS 638SSW WSP-ACC FT END DAMAGE
42 97 TOYOTA CAMRY 397SVA PLI-UNAUTH DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
43 93 FORD TAURUS 454UKU PLI-UNAUTH DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
44 94 MAZDA MX6 768TCL PLI-UNAUTH DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
45 92 MAZDA MX6 855SVM PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
46 88 TOYOTA CRESSIDA 124UNG PLI-AB 1 FLAT, SIDE & INTERIOR DAMAGE
47 90 HONDA CIVIC 138PYP PLI-AB FT & REAR DAMAGE
48 93 NISSAN SENTRA 340TCU KCS-DWLS DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
49 85 TOYOTA COROLLA 254SNE PLI-AB DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
50 89 FORD ESCORT 626MJI PLI-AB INTERIOR DAMAGE, DENTS

For more information visit our Auction Page.