MONROE — Chuck Waite has watched many men change as he worked with inmates at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
A volunteer with the Kairos Prison Ministry International, he has heard many stories that touched his heart. He was especially moved on Saturday when an inmate at the Washington State Reformatory said he wanted to set up a fund to help the families of the four slain Lakewood police officers.
“I was amazed. It shows a man who is seeking to make changes in his life,” Waite said.
As part of his volunteer work, Waite meets regularly with inmates at the Monroe Correctional Complex to read scriptures and share life experiences.
Prison officials said it’s no problem to set up a fund like that. Several inmates said they were interested in making donations, but they haven’t raised money, Associate Superintendent Karen Portin said.
It’s not uncommon that prisoners decide to help a cause, state Department of Corrections spokesman Chad Lewis said. They have raised money for scholarships, school supplies and holiday fundraisers.
They may never see the people benefiting from their help, but they do it anyway, Portin said.
“They are trying to make amends. It’s part of their own journey,” she explained. “They want to show that not every offender is a Maurice Clemmons.”
Clemmons, a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal record, was suspected of killing the four Lakewood police officers Nov. 29 as they sat in a Parkland coffee shop. A Seattle police officer fatally shot Clemmons less than two days later.
Working with prisoners, Waite learned that some of them have no positive feelings toward police officers. But others aren’t like that, Waite said. They want to do their small share to give back to the community they have harmed.
“They are people like us. Some of these men and women have a great heart,” he said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
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