Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

You are missed. You will never be forgotten.
May you continue to rest in eternal peace......

Anon

November 8, 2011

Rest in peace, your sacrifice will never be forgotten!!!!!!

Lcpl James Manning
U.S.M.C.

October 30, 2011

As the son of another WA police officer killed in the line of duty my heart goes out to the family of Sgt. Renninger. I never met him but from what I've learned he was a great man and a person of honor. May he be remembered always. I feel you're pain. Hang in there.

Jake Crawford

July 21, 2011

Mark-
It is still so hard to believe you are gone. I drive by our high school, and am overcome with emotion and memories. I can picture you talking and laughing, and imagine the sound of your voice. You were such a wise guy. I have such great memories of you. And then my mind drifts to seeing you placed on a horse drawn caison in a casket draped with a flag.The marque that read "We remember Sgt. Mark Renninger." You are loved. You are missed. You will never be forgotten.

Anonymous

March 12, 2011

I still miss the arguments over the greatest NFL QBs and teams, the "discussions" over pending contract issues and the dinners at Outback in days long ago. Gone but not forgotten. You will forever be with us...

T.S. LK19
Lakewood PD

January 12, 2011

Mark~
Thinking of you today, and wishing you eternal peace. I know you are safe and in heaven. My prayers are with your family, as they learn to go on without you. May God grant them strength. You will never be forgotten friend.

Anonymous

November 29, 2010

Remembering you and yours today, a year later, while attending the funeral of another fallen brother...

Detective Mareshah Hale
Colorado Springs Police Department

November 29, 2010

As we approach the first anniversary, tommorrow, of your murder by a monster that should never have been released from prison, I want to let your family, friends, and fellow officers know that you and they are still in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless your soul and keep those left behind in His safe care!!

Anonymous

November 28, 2010

Miss you every day brother.

J.S. K-9 30
Lakewood Police

September 18, 2010

Mark~
Not a day goes by...Heaven was needing a hero like you. Rest in peace Friend.

Anonymous

September 18, 2010

Thinking of you everyday, especially today.

Friend
Anonymous

August 13, 2010

Sgt. Renninger,

We met your mother today at a Father's Day Baseball game with the Reading Phillies where we were performing a K-9 demonstration not too far from your hometown, and what a nice woman she is. She is a very strong person considering what had happened.

You, your family, friends and your department are and always will be in our thoughts and Prayers. God bless you brother, we'll take the watch from here.

City of Reading, PA Police Dept.
K-9 Unit

June 20, 2010

I just ran in the National Police Week 5k in Washington DC and wore your name as a remembrance on my number. As a Washingtonian here for just the weekend I was proud to remember you and honor our State. Know that you will not be forgotten.
Jody Richer

Jody Richter
none

May 8, 2010

Over 4 months have passed now and I miss you everyday buddy. I was so fotunate to get to work with you and have you as my Team Leader and I will forever be grateful for the times we had and everything that you taught me. You have left a huge hole in the heart of the team but we are better because of you and we won't let you down. RIP Mark, we love you.

Police Officer

April 7, 2010

Dear Family, Friends, and Co-Workers of Sergeant Mark Renninger,

We are so sorry to here about your tragic loss of your loved one. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you in support during this very difficult time. We wish we could be there in person to offer support. We know that sometimes there is little comfort that comes from words. During the holidays remember those special moments you have shared together and the love you shared. Keep focused as you can on the memories and joyous times for these things may bring you comfort. Rely heavily on family, friends, and other law enforcement for support. Honor your fallen loved one, for their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Sergeant Mark Renninger is a hero. He will live on through all of you forever.

Respectfully,

Alissa Scott
Widow of Beryl Wayne Scott
E.O.W. 09-10-02

Lisa Schultz
Widow of Don Schultz
E.O.W. 05-12-04

Co-Founders of Survivor Help Network

Anonymous

March 28, 2010

New York City and State will never forget you. My Precinct is as Angry today as it was shocked in November. God be with you, the Lakewood Officers Richards, Griswold and Owens and your families. We will never ever forget or forgive...

A Cop
New York

February 12, 2010

It's been 70 days and it feels like only yesterday and it also feels like a lifetime. You and your family are in my prayers and will not be forgotten.

Anonymous

February 7, 2010

Your absence is still felt. We cannot believe still that you are gone. We still hurt and we are still angry. We miss you so very much.

Lakewood citizen

January 27, 2010

Not a day goes by that you are not thought of.

Anonymous

January 22, 2010

Sgt. Renninger,
Sir, I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your community, but also for our Country when you served as a U.S. Army Ranger. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Rangers Lead The Way!

Anonymous

January 18, 2010

Comrade in Arms

When we were young we played cops ‘n robbers,
We argued who would be the one in blue,
‘Cause the good-guys always won,
And before the day was done,
The bad-guys always got their due.

There were’nt no shades of gray in ol’ Dodge City,
Our TV heroes kept it black and white,
Marshal Dillon always knew
Exactly what to do
And in the end things always turned out right.

And we were always strong and ever fearless,
‘Cause we could shoot our way out of all harm,
And we were quite a team
As we shared our childhood dream,
Me and you, my comrade in arms.


As we grew up we never did quit dreaming,
And then one day it finally came to be,
I pound those busy streets,
As I walk the city beat,
And you became the sheriff’s deputy,

We went from cocky young-guns to old soldiers,
With time we learned how much we didn’t know,
At our favorite all-night diner,
Our war stories grew finer,
Like fish-tales, with each time they were told.

Though we never found the glory we once dreamed of,
We swore the lives we lived were somehow charmed,
And we were quite a team,
As we shared our childhood dream,
Me and you, my comrade in arms.

Now today the flag’s half-staffed down at the courthouse,
And our badges, like our hearts, they bear dark scars,
We cried when they played Taps,
In the church yard as you passed,
And I walked your sobbing widow to the car.

Though I can’t recall a time I felt so weary,
A certain comfort bears me through this painful storm,
‘Cause I know we were quite a team,
And we lived that childhood dream,
Me and you, my comrade in arms.

Me and you, my comrade in arms.

©Tom Doran

tom Doran
fellow cop, neighboring agency

January 10, 2010

You are not forgotten. Thank you for you service and god bless you for your sacrifice.

Anonymous

January 10, 2010

My prayers go out to the family of Sergeant Renninger. May you rest in peace. I know what its like to lose a family member to senseless violence and although these words won't even begin to repair the hurt you feel, I wanted to share my condolences. God Bless!

TSgt Townsend
USAF

December 29, 2009

This is your obit from the Seattle Times. You were an
exceptional human being and it is sad I can only sing your
praises in death. We mourn such a great loss to your family, your wife and children, to your police dept., to
your military friends and to your country. Thank you for
your amazing service to others and your ultimate sacrifice.

Sgt. Mark RENNINGER Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, a devoted husband and father and distinguished police officer, was taken from this earth far too early on Nov. 29, 2009. He leaves behind his wife, Kim, daughters Letra and Allison, and son Nicholas. Born Aug. 13, 1970 in Bethlehem, Pa., Mark was the second of five siblings. He was an active member of the Bethlehem Boys Club as a youth and participated in football and baseball. At Liberty High School, Mark was a star athlete, a standout for the Hurricanes football team as a strong safety, helping lead them to two conference titles. But he was equally dedicated to his school work, even going beyond the basic requirements to help others. While taking a sociology class in high school, Mark led classmates into a project producing a documentary to help young people better understand what it's like to be elderly. With his classmates, Mark visited senior citizens living in Bethlehem several times a month. "A lot of kids are cocky to older people," Mark was quoted telling The Morning Call of Allentown in 1989. "After sitting and talking to them, you change your way of thinking. Even if this changes three peoples' minds, it's worth it. I spent more time on this than anything. All my study halls are dedicated to this class." Despite having the opportunity of playing football in college, Mark bypassed his love of the gridiron to begin serving others in 1989. Mark enlisted in the U.S. Army and did his basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Shortly after, he went to airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was accepted to the prestigious Army Rangers program and was part of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning. At Fort Benning he was honored as Soldier of the Quarter and a jump master. Four years later he arrived in Washington State when he was transferred to Fort Lewis and was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Mark was honorably discharged from the Army in 1996 and would later jokingly tell his family that all the camping he did as a Ranger gave him no interest in ever going camping again. It seemed only natural that Mark would go from serving the country in the military to serving the public. He joined the Tukwila Police Department in 1996 and quickly became a leader in the patrol unit. While in Tukwila, Mark was active with the Community Oriented Policing Unit and the Pro-Act Team, and was president of the Tukwila Police Guild. In 2004, Mark moved on to the Lakewood Police Department. Mark worked as a patrol officer and later served in the Neighborhood Patrol Officer Unit before being promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2008. He was on the path toward becoming a lieutenant with Lakewood PD. Mark's true calling in law enforcement was when he received an assignment as a SWAT officer in 2001. His experience and expertise as a SWAT officer later led to Mark becoming a well-respected SWAT instructor both locally serving on the executive board of the Washington State Training Officers Association, and nationally with the National Training Officers Association. He brought those talents as a SWAT officer to Pierce County after he joined Lakewood Police and became a Team Leader with the multi-jurisdictional Metro SWAT Team in April 2005. As an officer, Mark was awarded the Medal of Merit, The Core Values Award, Distinguished Service Award and the Chief's Commendation. He received the Lifesaving Award with Lakewood PD after stopping while on his way home following a shift, and ran through leaking gas to help pull a driver from a burning vehicle. In 1999 he went to Stockholm, Sweden and participated in the Police and Fire Olympics. But all of his talents for police work were secondary to his home life. He made a point to leave police work at the office and focus on his family when at home - three children and his wife. He married his wife Kim in 2003, not surprisingly while on a trip to a NASCAR race, and three years later welcomed their son Nicholas to the world. Whether it was making a point to be the softball games of his oldest daughter Letra, the school activities of Alli, teaching young Nicholas during his first few years, or simply spending quiet time with his wife, these were Mark's favorite moments. While not coming close to matching the love for his family, Mark's love of football - specifically Penn State and the Philadelphia Eagles - was a runner-up. He followed Big 10 football religiously and always was willing to argue about how the Big 10 was superior to the Pac-10. He was also like every other Philadelphia fan, always willing to write off the Eagles at the slightest step backward but remaining a devoted fan. He also made a point to see as many NASCAR races as he could. It didn't matter if it was the Truck Series, Nationwide Series or the Sprint Cup cars, Mark would watch them make left-turns incessantly. He even dragged his wife along to see a couple of races live. The decorations on the walls of his home office are one of three things: pictures of SWAT officers, or Penn State or NASCAR memorabilia. Along with his wife and three children, Mark is survived by his four brothers, Matthew, Marty, Michael and John; a sister, Melissa; his mother, Nancy; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild.

Lynn Kole
Bellingham, WA

Anonymous

December 27, 2009

It’s been three weeks since you were taken from us and I still can’t believe that this really happened. I think about you every day. I think about our last conversation, on my way home that morning, and I wish I could have been there with you. I miss you brother.

J.S. K-9 30
Lakewood PD

December 20, 2009