Officer Tina Griswold, 40, was shot and killed Sunday morning along with three other officers while sitting inside a coffeehouse in Parkland, south of Tacoma. Officials described the attack as an "ambush."
Griswold's sister, Tiffiny Ryan, works for the Spokane Police Department as a records specialist. Griswold's parents live in Coeur d'Alene.
According to Ryan, Griswold began her law enforcement career as a dispatcher in Shelton, WA., then became an officer for the Shelton Police Department. She then began working as an officer for the Lacey Police Department, and finally with the Lakewood Police Department.
Ryan and Griswold are just a year and a month apart. Ryan says she often worried about her sister. “years ago, I asked my sister, 'Im worried. what's going to happen if something happens to you?' she said, 'Tiffiny, I want you to know that if anything ever happens, I went out doing what I love the most."
Ryan says even with the recent death of seattle police officer Timothy Brenton, and watch the funeral scenes, she says she still never dreamed she would be next.
And now Ryan is expressing her anger at the suspect, she says "if that man is watching this or if he ever watches this, i want him to know what he took from us. i won't ever get to see her again. she won't get to watch her children grow." Ryan says the suspect, Maurice Clemmons, should have never been freed.
Ryan says she has many family members involved in law enforcement. Her father is retired from Shelton police. Her brother is in corrections. Her future brother-in-law is a Spokane County Deputy. She released this statement Monday:
"Our family thanks the community for their support, as well as the law enforcement community. We appreciate all the officers who are assisting in the capture of Tina's murderer. As a community, we need to pull together and make changes in the Criminal Justice system, so that no one else becomes a victim. My sister was a hero and will be greatly missed. She has made all of us very proud."
Tina Griswold was a wife and mother of two children. She was a 14- year police veteran, and recently honored with a medal for saving a life this past summer.
