Thousands honor fallen Pierce County deputy

TACOMA — After leaving comfortable private-sector jobs to become a Pierce County Sheriff's deputy, Kent Mundell Jr. had a solemn talk with his mother about how the value of his life had changed along with his career path.

Patricia Stafford said her son felt that someday he might be "called upon" to give his own life in exchange for someone else's safety. When she tried to tell him that would make him a hero in the eyes of many, her son disagreed, saying he was simply " 'doing what I'm supposed to be doing.' "

Stafford told a crowd of nearly 7,000 gathered Tuesday at the Tacoma Dome for her slain son's memorial that the proclamation left her stunned and forced her to build "a shield" around her heart. But she understood.

"Kent was called to the profession of law enforcement," Stafford said. "He told me someday that he might be called upon. He was truly a warrior who counted the price before entering the valley."

Deputy Mundell, 44, died Dec. 27 from wounds he had suffered a week earlier while responding to a domestic-violence call at a home outside Eatonville, Pierce County. Mundell and Sgt. Nick Hausner were shot by David Crable after the man had agreed to leave the home.

Mundell, a 10-year veteran, managed to return fire, killing Crable. Hausner survived his wounds.

Mundell is the region's sixth law-enforcement officer to die from gunfire since Oct. 31, a string of deaths that was never far from the thoughts of those who spoke during Tuesday's memorial service. Police from across Washington, Oregon and Canada, as well as firefighters and military personnel, attended the service, which was preceded by a 1,000-vehicle procession from Puyallup.

Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor told Mundell's wife Lisa and their two children, Kirsten, 16, and Austin, 10, that he wished he had the words to help ease their grief.

"In his loss we have, all of us, lost a great deal. I don't have the words of comfort, except to say I am sorry for your trouble, I am sorry for your loss," Pastor told the audience. "Kent is a man who took the idea of service seriously, he took our core values seriously."

"These have been dark days of late," Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy told the crowd. "We all feel it."

Gov. Chris Gregoire told the crowd that "we must protect those that protect us."

On Oct. 31, Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton was fatally shot and his partner wounded as they sat in a parked patrol car in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood. Christopher Monfort, a Tukwila man, has been charged in the shootings.

On Nov. 29, Lakewood police Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Gregory Richards were fatally shot as they sat in a Parkland coffee shop. The gunman, Maurice Clemmons, was fatally shot by a Seattle police officer following an intense two-day manhunt.

Lisa Brenton, Timothy Brenton's widow, attended Tuesday's memorial service with her two children. She said it was important for her family to show its support for Mundell's family.

Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Jones said he had spent time with Mundell at Harborview before the deputy was taken off life support. Speaking to the Tacoma Dome audience Tuesday, Jones said he's grateful he had a chance to kiss his friend on the forehead, tell him he was proud of him and say goodbye.

Jones said Mundell was never shy about telling his friends and colleagues that he cared for them.

"Kent never had a problem saying 'I love you man,' " Jones said. "You could say 'I love you' back to him, it was never weird. He was a very giving and approachable person."

Thousands braved a steady drizzle to line the procession route before the memorial service. Approximately 1,000 vehicles representing 160 law-enforcement and firefighting agencies took part in the procession, according to Pierce County officials.

Tiffany Carlton, 28, her husband and their two young sons were among those who lined the procession route. She said she attended the Dec. 8 memorial procession for the four slain Lakewood officers as well.

"It's heartbreaking, what's happening right now," Carlton said of the officers' deaths. Students from Kalles Junior High School, of Puyallup, were among about 1,000 students lined up near the school.

"The police risk their lives for us," said Ryan Ball, 14, explaining why he stood along the route.

Tacoma Police Department Explorer Scout Kyle Tanner, 20, helped with crowd control outside the Dome. Tanner also worked during the memorial service for the four Lakewood officers. He said the atmosphere Tuesday felt different from the earlier service.

"It seems sadder, maybe because it's another add-on to all the officers who died," Tanner said.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.