Members of Bonney Lake Community Plead for Better Signage, Lifeguards on Lake Tapps

At the June 26 council meeting in Bonney Lake, the family of Quentin Boggan and their supporters asked the city for warning signs and lifeguards on Lake Tapps, to prevent such a devastating tragedy from happening again.

“It was up to Quentin’s best friends and his big brother – children – to try and save his life, and now they feel like they’ve failed,” said Sherrie Cinkovich, who spoke for the Boggan family. “There needs to be lifeguards on the lake, for however long the season lasts.”

Tina Lombard, a mother from Federal Way, spoke tearfully about the death of her son, Robert “Hurricane” Harris who died on the lake last September while attending a family barbeque.

“It took 22 minutes for someone to get to the lake. The police eventually did get there and drag him out, but if there was a floating dock, lifeguard or designated swimming area… There needs to be a rope saying ‘you can’t go beyond this,’” said Lombard. “If there is a risk of hypothermia in the water, there should be signage.”

In the wake of Boggan’s death, members of the community are prepared to host local fundraisers to pay for a sign to post at Allan Yorke Park to warn swimmers of the danger of drowning and honor Boggan’s memory.

Bonney Lake mayor Neil Johnson said that a sign at the park was the first thing that came to his mind after hearing about the tragedy.

“It won’t bring Quentin back, but it’s something the city will definitely do – it will come out of the Mayor’s budget, or wherever it has to,” said Johnson.