GEOFF READING: STILL IN MOURNING >>>

The 253 is still in mourning. As more and more of the nuts and bolts of what, how, why and where come to light, it gets more and more frightening. It could have been any of us. The four officers were sitting in a Forza Coffee shop. I love Forza. The boy and I go to the one near our house all the time. I've seen police (and students and soccer moms, skater kids and suit guys, computer geeks... etc.) enjoying the fireplace and the comfy chair and couches - not to mention the good coffee. Obviously, the stars aligned in the legion of doom, and somehow 37-year-old Maurice Clemmons was let out of prison.  Seven days later, he walked into a Forza that is less than five blocks from where my son’s grandma Mary-Anne lives, and killed these four people.

Sergeant Mark Renninger, age 39 with 13 years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.

Officer Ronald Owens, age 37 with 12 years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a former wife and a daughter.

Officer Tina Griswold, age 40 with 14 years of law enforcement experience. She is survived by her husband and two children.

Officer Greg Richards, age 42 with eight years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.

RIP officers.

Family and friends of these officers are in my thoughts and prayers.

My good friends and brothers in the band DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED will be hosting a benefit for the families of these four officers on Saturday, Dec 19, at the Snoqualmie Casino. Special guest will include QUEENSRYCHE doing an acoustic set, and I have it on good authority that Mr. Geoff Tate may be unleashing his staggering vocal prowess on a couple of hits from Mr. McKagan’s hey-day. Even if you can't make it out, please consider getting in touch and donating whatever you can. The media will only focus on this story for so long. They will tire, and move on to the next headline. But these kids have lost their parents forever. 

Again, hug your kids, your mom and dad, your brothers and sisters. Make a call to a friend you've been meaning to get in touch with. Because I can promise you, there will come a time when that option will be taken from you.

Drummer Geoff Reading â€" who writes thi bi-weekly  column for the Weekly Volcano's Spew called “Holding Down the 253” as well as a weekly music columnâ€" has played music in tons of Northwest bands. Green Apple Quick Step, New American Shame, Top Heavy Crush and most recently Duff McKagan's LOADED â€" to name but a few. He's toured the world several times over, sharing stages with the likes of Slipknot, The Cult, Buckcherry, Korn, Journey, The Sex Pistols, Nine Inch Nails and on and on. He has called Tacoma home since 2005, and he holds down the 253 in the North End with his wife and son.