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SALT LAKE CITY â More than 200 people, including family members of fallen Utah police officers, gathered at the state Capitol Thursday to honor law enforcers.
Several county commissioners collaborated to organize the event not only to pay respect for police sacrifices, but also to offer support in a cold climate of negative public sentiment toward law enforcement.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes spoke at the rally along with other law enforcement and government leaders, sharing a conversation he had with a trooper Wednesday.
âHe said, âGeneral, the tension out there is palpable â some days I feel like itâs a burden; the people Iâm trying to protect are fuming with distrust or even distaste,ââ Reyes recalled.
Addressing the uniformed officers in the crowd, Reyes acknowledged they are likely fully aware that âthe voices of criticism against law enforcement are perhaps louder than ever.â
Public distrust of police officers is present on a statewide and national level following a year laden with controversial fatal officer-involved shootings.
We know that not all law enforcement are good people and the many who are good certainly aren't perfect — we understand that — but to cast aspersions on a group of public servants who do jobs that most citizens wouldn't or couldn't do is a shame.
–Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes
There was Michael Brown, the 18-year-old black male shot and killed by a white police officer in August last year. Thousands of protesters also flooded New York streets in December to protest a grand juryâs decision not to charge officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner.
In Utah, three fatal officer-involved shootings just this month and 14 others in 2014 have garnered high publicity. As a result, tensions are high between police and some members of the public. Reyes said he hopes Thursdayâs event encouraged the law enforcement community as well as reminded the public that it's law enforcementâs âhighest aspirationâ to protect people not only from physical harm, but also from loss of rights and liberties.
âWe know that not all law enforcement are good people and the many who are good certainly arenât perfect â we understand that â but to cast aspersions on a group of public servants who do jobs that most citizens wouldnât or couldnât do is a shame,â Reyes said. âTo defame and to judge and to target the entirety of the law enforcement community because of the actions of the few is bigotry of its own stride. Itâs just wrong.â
While certain situations cause reasonable public concern, the projection of negative generalizations upon the entire law enforcement community, especially in manners that invite violence toward officers, âwill only escalate in an unproductive way,â Reyes said.
In attempt to âde-escalate tensions,â Reyes said he has reached out to representatives from minority communities, including the Polynesian, African-American and Latino communities, to organize meetings for discussions about the taut relationships between citizens and law enforcement. While Reyes said the meetings do not yet have solid dates, he hopes they will take place within the next few months.
âFrom my vantage point, we have to meet and have those discussions because whether or not itâs actually happening, the perception is from a number of the communities, particularly minority communities, that their rights are being violated and theyâre bing targeted in an improper way,â Reyes said. âMy hope is that we can create enough of an environment of trust to further a productive dialogue.â
Family members of officers who have died in the line of duty also spoke during the rally, including Nannette Wride, wife of Utah County Sheriffâs Sgt. Cory Wride, who was fatally shot one year ago while sitting in his patrol car after he stopped to aid who he thought was a stranded motorist in Eagle Mountain.
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âAs a community, we need to stand behind you officers and support you and let you know how much you are loved and how much we appreciate you,â Wride said.
Iron County Commissioner Dale Brinkerhoff, who spearheaded the event, said he was pleased to see people showing âproper respect, admiration, support and sympathyâ for police officers and the families of fallen officers. In Utah, 137 officers have lost their lives in the line of duty, he said.
âWe need to remember each and every day nearly 1 million officers put their lives on the line to keep citizens across this nation safe. Sometimes we forget the thousands of good things these people do,â he said.
Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower said Thursdayâs event was a refreshing reminder of law enforcementâs mission to serve with âhonor and integrityâ so communities will have faith in their protection. He said he hopes the event helps build bridges between police officers and the public.
âNow, as the voices of criticism are the loudest, unless you have violated the peopleâs trust, you should never feel ashamed to wear your uniform proudly,â Reyes told officers in the crowd. âWe stand with you and seek ways to support you.â