NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Local police agencies showed their support for the victims of the Dallas shooting, Saturday.
The Northside District of the Miami-Dade Police Department held a prayer service where they offered up words of hope and prayers for the five officers killed in Thursday night’s sniper attack in Dallas, Texas.
Miami-Dade officers were present at the prayer service, along with local church members, to mourn the deceased.
The event started a conversation about the relationship between police and the community. “It’s been challenging. Parents having to have conversations with their children that are quite difficult,” said Pastor Curtis Powell of Bethany Seventh-Day Adventist Church. “Young people, some of them are scared about what’s happening. We have people who are in the police sector who are also fearful, not sure of what’s going to happen, uncertain about what’s going to happen. You have a lot of uncertainty in the air, so our job is to bring about some reassurance and some encouragement during times like this.”
Officers reflected on what was a dark day for police officers throughout the country. “It’s very sad times, so my heart goes out to all the law enforcement members and all the families,” said Miami-Dade Police Maj. Ricky Carter, “and it’s very important for us to try to do what we can do to show the community that we do care, that we are here and that we do want to do right.”
In the City of Miami, a moment of silence for the Dallas victims was held at an event saying farewell to longtime department spokesman Delrish Moss.
Moss is heading to Ferguson, Missouri where he will take on a new role as Ferguson’s police chief.
Ferguson, just two years ago, was embroiled in racially charged protests and riots after a white officer, Darren Wilson, killed an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown. Wilson did not face any charges.
Moss spoke with 7News about the challenges facing the nation. “Violence is one of those things that touches us all, but when it touches police officers, that tells you that everybody else has lost a degree of safety,” Moss said. “Police officers typically are the people who keep you safe, not the people who are victims. But, it also tells you that this is a very dangerous job, and that people are committed to giving their lives to protect and serve.”
In the wake of the Dallas attack and other police-involved shootings, law enforcement leaders in Miami-Dade and Broward are taking a look at possibly changing policies to make the job safer for both officers and the people they protect.
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