Officers' families drop their claims against Pierce County

The families of three murdered Lakewood police officers said Friday afternoon they have dropped their claims against Pierce County, saying they couldn't endure the ugly backlash from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office and the public.

Lawyers for the families of four slain officers had announced plans Thursday to file $182 million in claims against the county, accusing the Sheriff's Office and jail of failing to prevent the officers' deaths by not monitoring jail telephone calls made by gunman Maurice Clemmons.

Two widows and a sister of three fallen officers told The Seattle Times the public misunderstood their families' motives behind the claims, which they had hoped would force changes at the jail to protect the community.

Kim Renninger, widow of Sgt. Mark Renninger, said: "Instead of it helping with closure, this has opened a wound I never expected. What hurts most of all is them calling me greedy."

Kelly Richards, widow of Gregory Richards, said: "We don't want this ugliness. I just want it to be over."

Ronda LeFrancois, sister of Ronald Owens, said: "We we're in it for the change — the system is broken. I never would have been able to make it through the tragedy without the community. We'd never throw this back in their face."

Renninger, Owens, Richards and fellow officer Tina Griswold were gunned down by Clemmons on Nov. 29 at the Forza Coffee shop.

A lawyer for Griswold's husband, who filed a claim, said Friday that his client was considering whether to change course, as well.

Pierce County Sheriff spokesman Ed Troyer criticized the families for making the claims. "When you end up getting attorneys, money and greed, it's just a bad mix," KOMO-TV reported. "... It's really going to hurt a lot of people."

Friday afternoon, the women, crying at times, were interviewed at Renninger's home. Earlier in the day, the three families stated the claims weren't about money but about policy changes, and they revised the claim to reflect their thoughts by dropping the monetary demand. By the afternoon, the families were distraught and decided they didn't want to pursue the legal claims.

Before the shootings, while being held in jail on other charges last fall, Clemmons in numerous phone calls described how he planned to kill police officers once he was released. The phone calls were recorded but not monitored.

"I'm wanting a policy put in place so they monitor phone calls of high-risk inmates — bottom line," Kim Renninger said. "We see a flaw, and we're trying to put a spotlight on the flaw and fix it. I love and support this county, but I want it a safer place for my kids and families."

Clemmons' phone calls were among thousands recorded daily at the Pierce County Jail. Troyer has said it would be impossible for personnel to monitor each call made by 1,400 inmates.

Family members say they don't expect the jail to monitor hundreds of inmate calls a day. Instead, they want the county to develop a procedure to evaluate prisoners and listen to calls from those deemed the most dangerous.

The Seattle Times listened to all of Clemmons' recorded telephone calls, which were obtained under the state's public-records law.

Clemmons described his bitterness at what he called a lifetime of abuse at the hands of law enforcement. Numerous times he told family how he planned to kill police officers.

The community reached out to the slain officers' families, supporting them emotionally and donating more than $2 million to a fund that will pay for the educations of the surviving nine children.

The fund is controlled by a board of trustees that allocates money only to the children's education. The spouses and other relatives have received no money from the account.

Christine Willmsen: cwillmsen@seattletimes.com or 206-464-3261.