December 1, 2009 in City

Griswold’s sister traveling to Lakewood today

Meghann M. Cuniff The Spokesman-Review

Statement from Tiffiny Ryan

“When I received a phone call this morning at 5:44 a.m. from Chief Kirkpatrick, I felt relieved. I was relieved to hear that the officer that shot Maurice Clemmons was OK. I was relieved that no other police officers or citizens had been hurt. I was full of gratitude towards that Seattle Police Officer for doing his job and keeping us safe. We didn’t realize it before, but we needed Clemmons to be caught for us to move on. Now my family can begin to mourn the death of my sister.”

The sister of slain Lakewood police officer Tina Griswold said she’s relieved to know that suspect Maurice Clemmons has been killed.

“We didn’t realize it before, but we needed Clemmons to be caught for us to move on,” Tiffiny Ryan said in a prepared statement released by the Spokane Police Department, where she works in the records division.

Ryan and her family, including her fiance, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Beau Vucinich, are traveling to Lakewood today.

The Spokane lodge of the state Fraternal Order of Police is helping Ryan and her family pay for the trip. The lodge set up a donation account at the Spokane Law Enforcement Credit Union, 924 W. Sinto Ave., in Ryan’s name.

“If you can find it in your heart to assist now, today, please go to the SLECU and make a contribution,” Cpl. Jon Strickland said in a news release.