Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas Thursday hit home for police in the D.C. metro area.
“It’s hard not to be shaken up as a police officer when you watch the coverage of what happened last night,” D.C. Police Chief Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters Friday.
With protests planned for this weekend, Lanier said there’s no time to take a break. As a precaution she is sending police officers out in pairs until further notice, and security has been stepped up around police stations.
The Prince George’s County Police Department is maintaining normal operations in the wake of the violence, but officers were told to keep track of national events. Chief Hank Stawinski also sent them a reminder.
“I took the opportunity last night to send an email department-wide emphasizing that in these difficult times it is more important than ever that the men and women in the Prince George’s County Police Department serve as a model of progressive and effective policing,” Stawinski said. He also told them to remember they do have support in the community, and residents rely on them to keep them safe.
Despite Thursday’s killings, Stawinski said police officers will continue to protect and serve their communities no matter how much danger exists. People saw that dedication last night when officers stepped in to shield people from getting shot.
“Men and women in law enforcement’s inclination, desire is to serve, and when danger presents itself, regardless of whether the people that they are standing next to agree with them, disagree with them, believe in them, have faith in them, they still put themselves in harm’s way,” Stawinski said.
Thursday that cost five officers their lives, but police officers know their lives are on the line every time they come to work.
“While that’s always an ever-present concern, quite frankly it’s not uppermost in the minds of any police officers who is effective because if you dwelled on that constantly you wouldn’t be able to go out and do the job,” Stawinski said.
Thursday night’s shootings were the deadliest attack on police officers since 9/11.
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