Police departments and officers across the country are mourning the loss of their brothers in blue and some are taking additional steps to ensure police officer safety.
Boston Police Department announced in a tweet it is partnering up its officers after the Dallas shooting. “In light of the tragedy in Dallas and in the best interest of officer safety, all #BPD patrols will be conducted by two-officer and all flags at BPD facilities will be flown at half-staff,” the BPD tweeted out today.
The New York Police Department has also told officers to partner up even during meals a breaks, according to a report by NBC New York.
The NYPD issued a prepared statement on standing in solidarity with the Dallas police officers and their families.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and colleagues of the police officers killed in the line of duty in Dallas. We also pray for the quick and full recovery of the officers and civilian injured. And we stand in solidarity with the people of Dallas, and with members of law enforcement there and across the country,” NYPD said.
“Public safety is the foundation of our democracy and its freedoms. Officers of the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department were targeted and murdered as they protected people exercising those freedoms. This does not blunt the pain of loss, but there is honor and heroism in it. The hundreds of thousands of officers across the country who will be out today—keeping people safe, working with communities, serving others—know this. It’s why we wear the uniform. It’s how we move forward. It’s what we do,” said the NYPD.
Augusta, Maine, Police Department has a vigil planned tonight at 8:58 p.m., the approximate time the shooting in Dallas started last night. Their vigil will be held at the Law Enforcement Memorial on State Street.
“The Augusta Police Department will hold a vigil tonight at the Law Enforcement Memorial on State Street in Augusta to remember our fallen in Dallas. The vigil will begin at 8:58 p.m., which was the approximate time the shooting started last night in Dallas,” said their Facebook post. They also urged officers in uniform to wear “mourning bands” at the vigil.
The mayor of Orlando, whose own residents are still in mourning over the mass shooting there in June, took to twitter to express his solidarity. Mayor Buddy Dyer, wrote, “We are strong when we stand together as a community and county. #WeStandWithDallas and all cities experiencing such difficult times.”