Kim Schrier: “I thank Representative Newhouse, my friend, for gathering us together here to honor law enforcement and to mourn several…”

“I thank Representative Newhouse, my friend, for gathering us together here to honor law enforcement and to mourn several recently fallen police officers. Whenever a police officers is killed in the line of duty it is a tragedy, for the officer, for the family, and for the entire community. Even one such death is too many. And in the last several weeks in Washington State, there have been several, and we have mourned together. As I speak, the funeral is underway for Officer Dan Rocha, killed in the line of duty in Everett on March 25. Just 2 weeks ago, I attended the funeral for Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Dom Calata, who leaves behind his wife, Erin, his darling preschooler, Dylan, family, and friends. Dom's friend and partner in duty, Officer Rich Scaniffe, spoke at the funeral. And he was critically injured at the same time but, thankfully, survived and will make a full recovery. Back in 2019, when I was first sworn into office, Kittitas County Deputy Sheriff Ryan Thompson was also killed while serving his community. Every day, police officers put themselves in danger to keep our communities safe, and every day, they and their families face the risk that they might not make it home to their loved ones. This is why it has been such a priority of mine to meet with police officers and police chiefs to thank them for their work and to learn how I can help support them and keep them and their communities safe.…”