(L-R, Jason McKissack, Lt. Ron Smith, Capt. Joe Kessler, Dep. Chief Nick Metz, Asst. Chief Mike Sanford)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Twenty-two months after we all first learned of the attack on Southwest Precinct Officer Jason McKissack – the attack that cost him his career but spurred passage of a new state law – his long road to recovery paused for celebration: More than 70 people, mostly former Seattle Police Department colleagues, crowded into the precinct community room for a retirement party tonight.

Before and after SPD leaders including precinct commander Captain Joe Kessler, Deputy Chief Nick Metz and Assistant Chief Mike Sanford took to the podium, law enforcers in and out of uniform mingled, applauded, and honored McKissack’s achievements.

Those achievements included fighting for the passage of legislation that was described as his legacy – the legislation we went to Olympia twice this year to cover, then to Lakewood to watch the governor sign: HB 1679 will make sure no catastrophically injured public-safety worker ever faces what he faced, the potential loss of medical benefits.

The tributes, his words, and the retirement gifts he received tonight are part of the story ahead, along with a look back:

When we published that first short story about the June 2008 attack, which happened when McKissack tried to break up a fight in High Point, we quoted Lt. Steve Paulsen as saying, “He’s going to be OK.” But beginning later that night – when we read and excerpted the full report on the incident – the severity of McKissack’s injuries, the brutality of the attack, became more widely known.

Months passed by; he wasn’t able to return to work. Almost exactly a year after the attack, he was in court as the three teenagers convicted in connection with the incident were sentenced – no additional time in custody for any of them (our June 2009 courthouse report is here).

Then the case slipped out of the spotlight again, until this past January, when it was revealed that McKissack was losing medical benefits, and his job. He spoke publicly on behalf of the legislation that would help his family’s predicament, and anyone else facing it in the future – first at Seattle Police Officers Guild headquarters, then before state legislators.

His wife Kim McKissack testified too. There were moments of drama along the way, when there were concerns the bill might stall, as a version of it had stalled the year before; the call went out for support, and the bill made it through the Legislature, finally becoming law.

We thought that might be the last time we heard anything about the McKissacks, until news of tonight’s ceremony, which we were invited to attend and cover. The precinct’s Lt. Ron Smith and Capt. Kessler spoke toward the start:

McKissack was presented with an official certificate of retirement by Deputy Chief Metz, who thanked him for his sacrifices. Then, a pen set with a letter opener, and Assistant Chief Sanford noted McKissack’s legacy, presenting him with a watch:

Lt. Smith offered the artwork with a representation of McKissack’s badge, seen in the photo atop this story, but here’s a closer look:

And then the now-retired officer himself had a few words:

He also was presented with his original badge, though the captain noted he would get an official retirement badge soon too. But there were moments of humor, including a cake iced with the message that the precinct would miss “Crusher.” Attendees took turns signing an oversized card:

And there was time for a semi-official photo, with Kim McKissack joining the law enforcers past and present:

(From left with the McKissacks, Lt. Norm James, Lt. Smith, Capt. Kessler, Dep. Chief Metz, Asst. Chief Sanford)
One final gift before the presentations ended: Sgt. Ty Elster of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, representing the honor guard, noted that sales of a commemorative coin had begun as a fundraiser for the widow of SPD Officer Tim Brenton, then become a fundraiser for the Lakewood officers’ families, but then turned into a benefit for the McKissack family. Those sales raised $12,000, and the McKissacks accepted that check tonight.