Fife, Milton mourn loss of more officers

Photo by Erica Cooley

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES GATHERED AT THE TACOMA DOME TO HONOR THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF PIERCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY WALTER KENT MUNDELL, JR. on Jan. 5.

The officers of the Fife and Milton police departments returned to Tacoma to pay respects to Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Walter Kent Mundell, Jr.

Mundell died on Dec. 28, after complications from injuries sustained in the line of duty in Eatonville. He was honored with a traditional law enforcement ceremony at the Tacoma Dome on Jan. 5.

During the memorial service, the scene was all too familiar as speakers shared intimate details about a man described as “having a zest for life.”

Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor said Mundell was the kind of man who took the idea of service seriously.

“He was strong in character,” Pastor said. “He might not have acted larger than life, but he had the courage to be larger than his own life.”

Mundell’s mother, Patricia Strafford, said she was deeply moved by the outpouring of public support for her son. She said Mundell was drawn to law enforcement and that he was willing to lay down his life for others.

“He told me that someday he might be called upon to risk his life and that he was ready and willing,” Strafford said. “Kent was not only my son, he was my joy and I am so proud to be his mom.”

About 15 officers from the Fife Police Department were among those who attended the memorial at the Tacoma Dome. Chief Brad Blackburn said his department has close ties with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, especially Detective Jeff Nolta, who was on the Pierce County Regional Meth-Lab Team with Mundell.

“These killings have been life changing events for the people in law enforcement and the regional communities as a whole,” Blackburn said. “How we do business on a daily basis is different. The safety of our officers is our number one priority.”

Blackburn added that members from his department also attended the Jan. 11 memorial for Grant County Deputy John Bernard, who was killed when his car crashed and rolled on a rural road near Ephrata early this month.

With six officer deaths since Halloween, Blackburn said people in the community and in law enforcement are shaken, but that his department remains unified in its commitment to keep the public safe.   

“Our department is not intimidated by these recent attacks,” Blackburn said. “Every day, our staff gives 110 percent of their efforts to make Fife safe. This will not change.”

Milton Police Chief Bill Rhodes said two officers from the police department and four Milton firefighters joined the Fife officers at Mundell’s memorial. Rhodes said several officers in his department might have known Mundell when he was working the South Hill beat. However, Rhodes didn’t know the officer.  

He said the recent killings have affected everyone in the Milton Police Department, but they have not affected their willingness to do the job or their dedication to serve and protect the citizens of Milton and beyond.

“This is not just our department but the law enforcement community as a whole,” Rhodes said. We will not let cowardly, senseless killings deter us from doing what we are sworn to do.”

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