The Memorial Ceremony for Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Kent Mundell will begin today at 1 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome. Deputy Mundell, 44, died on Dec. 28 from complications of injuries sustained in the line of duty as a Pierce County Sheriffs Deputy. He was responding to a domestic violence call in the Eatonville area Dec. 21. For the past 10 years, Mundell served the community as a Deputy Sheriff in the Mountain Detachment of Pierce County.
The Memorial Procession for Deputy Mundell will begin at 10 a.m. at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center, 110 9th Ave SW. The route will start north on So. Meridian, veering right to 3rd St. SE, then 2nd St. NE. It will then turn west on to River Road, continuing through on Bay Street where it will head west on Puyallup Avenue, and proceed south on C St. to the Tacoma Dome. Parking will be limited at the Tacoma Dome. The public is encouraged to use alternative parking areas. The order of the procession will be as follows (subject to change — details of exact agencies and participants will be known the day of the processional as they sign in): Deputy Mundell’s family; PCSD Mountain Detachment; PCSD; South Pierce Fire & Rescue; Graham Fire; Lakewood Police Department; Puyallup Police Department; All other Pierce County law enforcement; Seattle Police Department; Washington State Patrol; All others.
The ceremony for Deputy Mundell is expected to last approximately three hours, including the opening and closing of ceremonies. The speaker and performance schedule for the remembrance portion of the ceremony is as follows: United States and Canada national anthems by Sgt. Jesus Villahermosa of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and Sgt. Patti Lankford of the Washington State Patrol; Invocation by Chaplain John Pettit; Welcome remarks by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy; Paul Pastor, Pierce County Sheriff; Chaplain Rick Bulman; Patricia Stafford, Deputy Mundell’s mother; Memorial video presentation; Washington State resident and Nashville Recording artist Jonathan Harris who will be performing a song he wrote, “Thanks To You I’m Free”; Detective Jason Tate, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department; Deputy Jim Jones, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department; Sgt. Al Morris from the Tacoma Police Department singing “Amazing Grace,” accompanied by Tacoma Police Officer Jared Williams; Governor Christine Gregoire; Chaplain Rick Bulman; and benediction by Chaplain Dan Nolta.
People interested in making a donation, visiting from an out of area law enforcement agency or Honor Guard, or just wanting more information regarding the memorial should email pcsdmemorial@co.pierce.wa.us or call 1-866-977-2362. While volunteers are not needed at this time, people can assist by donating to Deputy Mundell’s family at any branch of Columbia Bank (for a list of branches, please visit http://www.columbiabank.com .) Additionally, the Pierce County Deputy Sheriffs Guild is accepting donations on their Web site http://www.pcdsguild.com . Tapco Credit Union has also set up an account, which can accept donation at any of their locations, or online at http://www.tapcocu.org .
DEPUTY MUNDELL MEMORIAL PROGRAM ONLINE
To download the official program for Deputy Kent Mundell’s memorial, click here — http://columbia.co.pierce.wa.us/crisiscom/crisisimages/pr678.pdf .
FLAGS RETURNING TO FULL STAFF
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has directed that all flags in Pierce County lowered in honor of Pierce County Deputy Kent Mundell return to full staff at the end of the day on Tues., Jan. 5, or first thing Wednesday morning.
EXPECT SR 167, SR 161 CLOSURES, DELAYS DURING PIERCE COUNTY MEMORIAL PROCESSION
Drivers can expect closures on SR 167 (River Road) and SR 161 (Meridian) today during the memorial procession for Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Kent Mundell. Alternate routes are strongly recommended.
The procession departs the Puyallup Fairgrounds at approximately 10 a.m., travels on northbound SR 161, continues on city streets, eventually turning onto southbound SR 167 and heads west toward Tacoma, ending at the Tacoma Dome for a 1 p.m. memorial service.
WSDOT will implement the following road closure between approximately 9:30 a.m. and noon:
— Northbound SR 161 closed at SR 512
— Southbound SR 161 closed at Levee Road
— Southbound SR 167 closed between Meridian and I-5
WSDOT anticipates heavy congestion on SR 512 at SR 161, on I-5 at Bay Street (Exit 135), and on SR 161 at SR 167. Motorists should plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
For the complete memorial procession route visit http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/ .
PROCESSION FOR SLAIN SHERIFF’S DEPUTY WILL IMPACT SOUND TRANSIT SERVICES
Sound Transit plans significant modifications for Tacoma Link service and several bus routes during the procession and memorial service for slain Pierce County Deputy Sheriff Kent Mundell.
Today, between approximately 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., the memorial procession will travel from the Puyallup Fair to the Tacoma Dome along Puyallup Avenue, East D Street and East C Street, significantly impacting all traffic and travel in that area. The Tacoma Dome Station will be closed to all bus traffic between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
— Tacoma Link / At approximately 10:30 a.m. during the procession, Tacoma Link will modify service to run between 25th Street Station and Theater District Station, with Tacoma Dome Station temporarily out of service. Tacoma Link will again modify service at approximately 3:30 p.m. to run between 25th Street Station and Theater District Station, with Tacoma Dome Station temporarily out of service when the memorial service concludes. The procession and the majority of exiting traffic will cross the Tacoma Link route just west of Tacoma Dome Station. Riders should expect large crowds and significant delays throughout the day from heavy traffic in the Tacoma Dome area.
— ST Express Route 574 / There will be no service to Tacoma Dome Station between 10 a.m. and noon during the procession. Passengers wanting to go to the Tacoma area will be dropped off at 10th & Commerce. Significant delays are expected in the Tacoma Dome area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m.
— ST Express Route 594 / No service at 24th & Pacific or Tacoma Dome Station between 10 a.m. and noon. Significant delays are expected in the Tacoma Dome area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m.
— Tacoma Dome Station / Significant traffic delays and limited access are expected in the Tacoma Dome Station area between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again when the ceremony ends at approximately 4 p.m. Bus riders should expect significant service delays. Bus, Sounder, and Tacoma Link riders should plan for limited access, heavy traffic and possible delays entering and exiting the parking garage.
Those interested in attending the service at the Tacoma Dome or viewing the procession in downtown Tacoma are encouraged to utilize off-site parking at Cheney Stadium. There will be no public parking at the Tacoma Dome. Pierce Transit will operate limited free bus service to the Tacoma Dome from Cheney Stadium at 2502 S. Tyler St. Bus service will begin at 10 a.m.; the last bus will leave from Cheney Stadium at 12:30 p.m. Buses will make return trips immediately following the conclusion of the memorial service.
Riders can sign up to receive automatic e-mail service alerts for Sounder Seattle-Everett, Sounder Seattle-Tacoma, Central Link, Tacoma Link or ST Express. Rider Alerts can help you plan your trip around construction, inform you about special service to events, and alert you to schedule changes for holidays. Visit http://www.soundtransit.org to sign up for e-mail alerts.
PCTV TO TELEVISE MUNDELL MEMORIAL
Pierce County TV (PCTV) will carry live coverage of the memorial service for Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Kent Mundell today. PCTV plans to interrupt its regularly scheduled programming at approximately 1 p.m., when the memorial service is scheduled to begin. The station will replay the memorial service at the following times:
— Weds., Jan. 6, at 5 p.m.
— Thurs., Jan. 7, at 2 p.m.
— Sat., Jan. 9, at 11 a.m.
— Sun., Jan. 10, at 5 p.m.
The memorial service also will be streamed live on PCTV’s Web site — http://www.piercecountytv.org — and remain archived there as well. PCTV can be found on channel 22 on the Comcast and Click! cable systems, and channel 78 on Rainier Connect. PCTV televises meetings of the Pierce County Council and the city councils in DuPont, Fife, Orting, Puyallup, Sumner and University Place, as well as the Sound Transit board and the Port of Tacoma Commission.
TV TACOMA TO BROADCAST PIERCE COUNTY DEPUTY’S MEMORIAL SERVICE
TV Tacoma and CityPost will provide live coverage of the memorial service for Pierce County Deputy, Kent Mundell today at 1 p.m. Due to commitments to broadcast the Tacoma City Council study session, TV Tacoma’s coverage will begin at 1 p.m. or immediately following the meeting. For viewers who are unable to watch the live coverage, the station will provide replays of the service at the following times:
— Tues., Jan. 5 9 p.m.*
— Weds., Jan. 6 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
— Sat., Jan. 9 8 a.m.
— Sun., Jan. 10 3 p.m.
* Replays on Tuesday night will begin immediately following the Tacoma City Council meeting if the meeting extends beyond 9 p.m.
TV Tacoma is carried on both the Click! Cable TV and Comcast Cable systems. TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 in the Tacoma City limits and in Pierce County on Click!, with the exception of University Place, where it can be found on Channel 21. On Comcast, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 in the Tacoma City limits and on Channel 21 in Pierce County. CityPost is seen on Channel 21 on Click!, Channel 77 on Comcast in the City of Tacoma. For programming information or program streaming, visit http://www.tvtacoma.com .
PROCESSION FOR DEPUTY MUNDELL WILL IMPACT PIERCE TRANSIT BUS SERVICE
Expect disruptions in Pierce County bus service today during the procession and memorial service for slain Deputy Sheriff Kent Mundell. Between approximately 10 a.m. and approximately 12 p.m., the memorial procession will travel north from the Puyallup Fair and Events Center along South Meridian, west on River Road, west on Puyallup Avenue, then south on D Street to the Tacoma Dome. The procession honoring Deputy Mundell will impact all traffic and travel — including Pierce Transit bus service on many bus routes, especially in the Puyallup and Tacoma Dome District areas. The Tacoma Dome Station will be closed to all bus traffic between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Pierce Transit is rerouting buses around the procession. If your Tuesday travel plans take you near the procession area, give yourself plenty of time, travel before 10 a.m. or after 12 p.m., or be prepared for delays. Delays, route detours, and missed connections may occur on other routes as well.
The following bus routes will be on detour beginning at 10:00 a.m. until approximately 12:00 p.m. Delays will occur on these routes: Pierce Transit 41, 42, 402, 409, 500, 501; Sound Transit 574, 594; Intercity Transit 603.
Pierce Transit will operate limited bus service to the Tacoma Dome from Cheney Stadium at 2502 South Tyler Street. The service will be free to the public. Bus service will begin at 10:00 a.m. The last bus will leave from Cheney Stadium at 12:30. Buses will make return trips immediately following the conclusion of the memorial service. The public is encouraged to utilize the off-site parking lot. There will be no public parking at the Tacoma Dome.
For additional information visit the Pierce Transit Web site at http://www.piercetransit.org or call Pierce Transit Customer Services at (253) 581-8000.
STATEMENT FROM PIERCE COUNTY EXECUTIVE PAT MCCARTHY
“The entire Pierce County family is saddened by the loss of sheriff’s deputy Kent Mundell. We all struggle to understand why his life was taken in another senseless act of violence. Deputy Mundell died in proud service of his community. He was a protector — someone who looked out for all of us. He also was a loving husband, father, brother, and son, and we grieve for his family and colleagues in the Sheriff’s Department. We will never forget him. We will honor his memory, and we will continue to show respect for all of those who put on a uniform every day and keep us safe.”
