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Vigil for fallen officers

º Community shows support following tragedy in Dallas

news@theeveningtimes.com

Supporters of local law enforcement expressed their sorrow and support for police officers and outrage following a recent deadly shooting spree on Thursday which left five police officers in Dallas dead and wounded seven more.

About 50 people gathered outside Marion Police Department Friday to bow their heads in prayer in support of the fallen police officers who were slain in Dallas, and to lend their support for the men in blue. “We are here today to honor you and are so thankful for what you do,” said County Judge Woody Wheeless, who is also Marion fire chief. “A lot of times we take for granted all that you do to keep our community safe. So we are here not only to support you, but to remember the events that have taken place over the past few days.”

Wheeless urged the community and the nation as a whole to come together and put racial issues and mistrust of law enforcement aside.

“We need to figure out how to take race out of these issues,” Wheeless said. “We’ve got these men and women who are trying to protect us every day.

Now, they are having to try and protect themselves. It is backwards from the way it should be. We appreciate the men and women in law enforcement who go out and put their lives on the line each day. It is a shame we are in a position today in our society where they are having to protect themselves. It’s not supposed to be that way.”

Five police officers were killed in an ambush in downtown Dallas Thursday and seven more were wounded by a gunman who was angry over recent police shootings and expressed a desire to kill white people.

The gunfire began during a protest against police violence after videos showing two African-American men who were shot by police in Minnesota and Louisiana.

It was the deadliest single incident for U.S. law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Vigils as well as protests spread across the country in response to the shootings.

A 32 year-old man was shot outside Minneapolis after being pulled over by police for a broken tail light. The man told police he had a firearm and a concealed carry permit, but was fatally shot after reaching for his driver’s license and registration.

In Baton Rouge, La., a 35year old man was fatally shot outside a convenience store after police responded to a report about a man with a gun.

Many of those who attended the Marion vigil are married to law enforcement officers or have family members who work in law enforcement.

“I want to thank you for your service,” one woman said during the ceremony.

“It’s a great thing that they do,” added another.

One woman, whose husband is a police officer, said while they always live with the possibility of harm coming to their loved ones, recent events have heightened the danger.

“It’s always in the back of your mind,” she told those gathered. “But it seems more so today. It’s really scary.”

Pastor Robert Cloninger of Marion United Methodist Church led the prayer and lamented that we are living in upside down times.

“This is crazy,” Cloninger said.

Cloninger asked God to pour out his Holy Spirit and to bless law enforcement and the victims’ families during the chaos that is breaking loose.

“We ask that you would especially pour out your Holy Spirit to the men and women who put their lives on the line every single day so that we can live in peace, so we can live our lives in peace, and for our civilization,” Cloninger said. “We know that it is not just the officers who struggle, but the families as well.”

Marion Police Chief Gary Kelly thanked the community for its support.

“That is what we are here for,” Kelly said. “We are here 24/7. If you need us, you know where we are.

And we thank you.”

By Mark Randall