The NYPD Stands with Dallas

The world’s eyes were on Dallas on the night of July 7 as gunshots rang out, squad cars sped to the scene, and our men in blue ran toward the gunfire.

Today, America is heartbroken, but police officers across the country are putting on their uniforms and going out to the streets to keep our towns and cities safe.

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Today, the chief of police in Dallas told Americans: “We don’t feel much support most days. Let’s not make today ‘most days.’ Please, we need your support to protect you from men like these, who carried out this tragic, tragic event.”

“Our profession is hurting. Dallas officers are hurting. We are heartbroken … Please pray for our strength during this trying time,” Chief Brown said. He also asked that Americans applaud the “brave men and women who do this job under great scrutiny.”

Pat Lynch, president of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, released a statement on Friday, expressing solidarity with the Dallas Police Department and bringing to bear the human element of this tragedy.

“New York City’s police officers know how it feels to lose fellow officers in a senseless, cold-blooded assassination. We stand with the men and women of the Dallas Police Department, DART [Dallas Area Rapid Transit], and with their families to mourn the loss of these fine officers,” said Lynch in his statement.

“Our elected leaders fail us when they prejudge incidents without having all the facts and disparage all law enforcement.”

“They did nothing to harm anyone but instead were protecting the rights of others to be heard in protest,” he continued. “We have said it many times before: The loss of life — every life — is a tragedy. But much of the anger directed at police officers over the past few years has been fueled by erroneous information and inflammatory rhetoric put forward by groups and individuals whose agenda has nothing to do with justice.”

The tragedy in Dallas was the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 9/11, a day the nation — and especially the NYPD — will never forget.

Pat Lynch said Americans must take a good hard look at their leadership, who he said allowed this demonization of the police to continue: “Our elected leaders fail us when they prejudge incidents without having all the facts and disparage all law enforcement. As we go forward, we need to take an honest, hard look at everything that wrongfully inflames emotions against police officers if we are going to be able to bring police officers and the community together.”

Related: Anti-Police Rhetoric Turns Deadly 

On the ground in Dallas, “tensions were running very high well into the night,” Claire Ballor, a Dallas Morning News Reporter who was on the ground there last night, told LifeZette.

“Groups were gathered along the perimeter of the crime scene. Some taunted police and at one point a group started pushing back against offers, shouting, ‘Black Lives Matter’ with their hands raised in the air. At least one person in that group was arrested,” she explained. She also pointed out that “some protesters were outraged at the behavior of those taunting the police and said they were embarrassed by how people were acting.”

“The streets were just flooded with flashing lights and law enforcement on every single corner downtown,” Ballor said. “The faces of these men and women who had just lost five of their own but had to continue working were painful to see.”

Related: Bringing Police and People Together for Good

While the public is still reeling from the tragedy, the strength and fortitude of the police during these devastating circumstances make a poignant point about courage and commitment, even as Americans everywhere struggle with the raw human emotions connected to the Thursday night events.