Connections to the local police community run deep in my family. Two uncles retired, one from the SPD, the other from the Renton PD. My brother-in-law and sister both work for the SPD. My brother-in-law is a less-lethal (think Taser) trainer and award-winning neighborhood officer. My sister has worked in homicide for about ten years, she talks to crazy people on the phone, transcribes witness statements about violent crimes, and handles gruesome evidence photos. She, my brother-in-law and their fellow officers and civilian staffers do good work that normal people like me couldn’t bear to do. And sometimes they pay with their lives.
Because of my sister, I found out about this event happening this Thursday, November 4th — Dine Out to Remember Our Fallen, a benefit for the Lakewood Officers Memorial and Behind the Badge Foundation. Most of the participating restaurants are local pubs and brewpubs including the RAM Restaurant and Breweries in Lacey, Lakewood, Kent, Puyallup, Tacoma and Northgate; the Elliott Bay Brewery in West Seattle; and Harmon Brewing and Hub and Katie Downs in Tacoma – to name a few.
All RAM restaurants are donating 10% of sales on Thursday night. The Lakewood RAM is the designated Home Base for the Dining Out event, with a silent auction, raffle and live band.
The Bamboo Bar and Grill in West Seattle is also donating a percentage of sales for the night, and hosting a jam session with members of Queensryche and Candlebox.
Seems like an easy enough thing to do, head to a local pub on Thursday night for dinner and a beer. After all you have to eat anyway. Might as well eat for a good cause this time. More info including the latest updates from particpating bars and restaurants is on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RememberOurFallen.