In the wake of Sunday's ambush and slaying of four Lakewood police officers, a state senator representing that city is arguing for a constitutional change that would allow defendants facing life sentences to be held without bail.

The man widely believed to have killed the officers, convicted felon Maurice Clemmons, could have faced just such a sentence had he been convicted on child rape charges he faced in Pierce County.

Instead, Clemmons bailed out of jail days before he allegedly killed four officers at a Lakewood coffee shop. Clemmons was shot to death early Tuesday morning by Seattle police.

Pierce County prosecutors had filed notice they would seek to have Clemmons sentenced to life without the possibility of release under the state's "three-strikes" law. A judge had yet to review that request, but Clemmons was released from Pierce County Jail after posting bond to cover his $190,000 bail.

In a statement issued Friday, state Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood said he'll ask that Legislature to modify Article 1, Section 20 of the state constitution. That section mandates that all non-capital defendants -- essentially anyone not facing a possible death sentence -- be allowed to post bail.

"Maurice Clemmons was sent a letter by the Pierce County prosecutor's office informing him that it was going to try him as a persistent offender and put him behind bars for life," Carrell said. "After learning of that, Clemmons could have felt that he had nothing left to lose. ...

"We need to make sure that never, ever happens again, and my bill is just the way to do that."

Carrell said he will suggest an amendment that would athories to hold defendants facing life sentences without bail. If the amendment passes both houses of the Legislature, it would go to a vote of the people in November 2010.