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.

VP Climbs Stairs for Charity

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

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.