Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick on Wednesday began a fundraising campaign for the families of the five officers killed in last week’s ambush and has raised over $18,000 so far.
Patrick donated $5,000 from he and his wife Jan, according to the Dallas Morning News.
The fundraising page on crowdrise shows $18,335 donated so far in one day.
“The murder of five police officers last week in Dallas will stay with us forever — and it should, because we must never forget the ultimate sacrifice they made protecting others,” Patrick’s fundraising page read.
“I visited the wounded in the hospital immediately following the shootings and watched as the gurneys of the fallen passed by and their fellow officers stood frozen in salute. Those images will remain etched in my memory forever,” wrote Patrick.
The page goes on to say the five men left families, wives and children behind. “One officer had just been married two weeks ago. On a family visit the day after the shootings, one officer’s children wondered what would happen to them now with their dad gone. Would they lose their home? I told them that would not happen,” Patrick wrote.
Some of the donors left messages of support for the Dallas police officers and and their families.
“Thankful to God for our brave officers,” one wrote.
“God bless these brave men who protect us. They ran to help. Dallas leads the country. God bless the police chief,” another donor wrote.
One donor wrote, “5 more heroes go home.”
“Our heartfelt thanks and sympathy to the families of the fallen officers. May God surround you with peace and comfort,” another one wrote.