Dec. 6, 2006
Hundreds attend prayer service and vigil for slain deputy
Hundreds of people prayed for slain King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox at a candlelight vigil and ecumenical service at the county’s Community Service Center in White Center Tuesday night.
The Service of Hope & Healing, led by the pastors of four White Center area churches, honored the deputy and his service to the community. They offered Bible readings and prayers of hope and endurance for his family, friends, colleagues and the community that loved him.
The pastors led the singing of the hymn “Amazing Grace” and asked the audience to kneel and put their hands on the ground in order to draw strength from the earth to continue the work of Deputy Cox.
The Church Council of Greater Seattle holds such prayer services for all homicide victims in the Seattle area. Pastors carried a staff that had red ribbons tied to it, each with the name of a Seattle homicide victim.
Cox worked for the King County Sheriff’s Office for nine years after leaving a career as a county prosecutor to work in the community where he grew up. His work to reduce crime in North Highline and White Center is regarded as a model of community policing. Off duty, Cox was president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council.
Clergy from Holy Family Catholic Church, Four Square Christian Church, Peace Lutheran and Glendale Lutheran participated in the service.