The leaders of eight Kitsap County law enforcement agencies issued a joint statement late Friday evening in response to the fatal shooting of five police officers in Dallas, Texas.
The “joint statement of concernment” calls for unity and support for police, and offers thoughts and prayers to the families, residents of Dallas and others touched by the sniper shooting in Texas. The statement doesn’t mention the fatality shootings of black citizens in other states that prompted the demonstration in Dallas.
Joint statement of concernment:
It is difficult to comment on the events that we’ve witnessed or personally experienced in our country over the past several weeks. The attacks on our peace officers is unprecedented, uncalled for and unacceptable.
Law enforcement officers commit themselves to a vocation, and to the profession of service. We are willing to stand in the face of danger to protect the people of our communities that we’re pledged to serve. This means everyone, not just those whom we may choose.
And, with these commitments, our families and friends stand with us.
Collectively, we are saddened and angry at what transpired in Dallas Thursday evening. Yet, we’re now further dedicated to continue serving as we strengthen our resolve to stand against the evils that face us in our world… domestic or foreign.
We must remember that peace officers and protestors alike were respecting each other and, like many of us, engaged in constructive dialogue. The secreted sniper is doing what too many are trying to accomplish right now — create more extremism and division amongst us.
All citizens and police officers have a duty and obligation to do the right thing, not just when we want to… but always. We live in OUR neighborhoods, OUR communities, OUR cities and OUR county. Officers and citizens alike must stand up and look out for each other, and keep the well-being of our families, friends and neighbors at the forefront.
If you want to engage positively — call people out when they generalize about any group or when they make anonymous and unsupported statements in social media. We must come together and actually talk to one another.
And, together, we support law enforcement nationwide as they protect all.
Alongside our partner law enforcement agencies in Kitsap County, we are sending our condolences, thoughts and prayers to the citizens, officers and families of the fallen and injured officers of the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police. We are understandably upset by the assassinations upon our colleagues in service. We pray for these communities, for the officers and their families as they live through these tragedies.
May God bless them. May God bless the United States of America.
Very respectfully,
Matthew Hamner, Chief of Police, Bainbridge Island Police Department
Steven Strachan, Chief of Police, Bremerton Police Department
Gary Simpson, Sheriff of Kitsap County
Samuel White, Chief of Police, Port Gamble Department of Public Safety
Geoffrey Marti, Chief of Police, Port Orchard Police Department
Shawn Delaney, Public Safety Director, Poulsbo Police Department
Michael Lasnier, Chief of Police, Suquamish Police Department
Capt. Chris Old, District Commander, Washington State Patrol (District 8)
