Deborah Horne onKIRO7 has just reported that Pierce County deputy sheriff Walter “Kent” Mundell passed away this evening at 5:04 p.m. 

He had been on life support at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle since being gunned down during a domestic violence call near Eatonville in Pierce County, WA on December 21. 

Police officers had been keeping a 24/7 vigil at the hospital. 

Last night there was a candlelight vigil at the LA Fitness outlet in Puyallup, WA where deputy Mundell worked out. 

His partner, Sgt. Nick Hausner, visited him at Harborview after he was released last week from Madigan Army Medical Center at Ft. Lewis, WA.

Sgt. Hausner credited Bryona Crable, the 16 year-old daughter of David E. Crable (the perpetrator who gunned down the deputies), with saving his life. 

Apparently, she courageously jumped her father during the close-range shoot-out and took his gun away before he was fatally wounded by deputy Mundell.  Her aunt and uncle pulled Sgt. Hausner to safety. 

I cannot fathom that level of courage and tenacity. 

Six police officers have died in the line of duty this year in Washington state at the hands of domestic violence perpetrators.   Another was killed in a car crash while responding to a domestic violence 9-1-1 call.

I pray the legislature will honor these brave officers by passing legislation that will keep these perpetrators in jail where they belong. 

And, I pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of Deputy Mundell.  He was one of the good guys who leveraged all his talents to make our world a safer place.  It is always horrid to bid farewell to someone we love, but it is especially hard during the holidays.  Memories don’t give hugs, but they do sustain us during our grief.