Union City Police Chief: Local Officers "Blessed" By Love From Community

Less than two weeks ago, Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister published a letter to residents about the killings of police officers in Dallas.

• Previous Coverage: Union City Police Chief's Letter to Citizens

Now, he's published another heartfelt letter, this time following the killings of police officers in Baton Rouge.

• See: Baton Rouge Police Shooting: 3 Officers Killed In Possible Ambush, 3 Others Injured

Here is Chief McAllister's letter in its entirety:

Fellow Union Citians:

Today we endure yet another tragedy in a nation embattled in hatred and distrust. As communities, and as a nation, we must endure and find solace in search of promise.

The past ten days have been unimaginable, but with your incredible outpouring of heartfelt gestures of support, the spirits of the men and women of the UCPD have definitely been boosted by your show of love and appreciation. You have stirred our gratitude numerous times over the past ten days in so many ways: social media, emails, phone calls, and even multiple occasions of people dropping off cards, goodies, flowers, and hugs in person at the police department. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

While it's unfortunate tragedy has become the catalyst to such powerful gestures of common unity (the basis of the word "community"), we are nonetheless blessed here in Union City by the magnitude of a community’s love for its police. Through your words and gestures you have demonstrated a profound level of companionship, fellowship, and unity for us, and with us.

Rest assured, "the media" have certainly seen the awesome rallying of the Union City community with us, its police department, but most media outlets have chosen not to proliferate the image or true representation of what a unified ethnically and racially diverse community looks like in this volatile environment. A couple print media organizations did catch onto the essence of the wonderful messaging we've had with each other in Union City over the past ten days, even to the point of publishing in a couple newspapers the power of what we're saying in Union City. But, by and large, our incredible unity in Union City has thus far escaped the mainstream media mantra. This does not, however, mean Union City is not leading the way on how police-community trust should be built. As a great community, our deed is our voice—a voice that seems to be resonating in other places as perhaps a model for others to follow.

In a few days, by special invitation of the White House, I will be in Washington D.C. taking part in a brainstorming discussion with senior White House staff on ways to proliferate success across the nation in building and maintaining police-community trust. The invitation, ironically extended several weeks ago before the latest tragedies occurred, came as a result of the U.S. Department of Justice taking note of the successful community-police relationship in Union City. Several other chiefs around the nation were hand-picked for the invitation-- some each from large, medium, and small departments-- and will be traveling to Washington as well to take part in this important discussion during which I will bear both the honor and responsibility to accurately convey the sentiment of the Union City Police Department and the Union City Community. I don't take that responsibility lightly. With the onset of the horrific tragedies of the past ten days, a national discussion of police and government leaders on this topic could not be more timely—no matter the makeup or size of our individual communities….no matter our successes or failures…..no matter our political affiliations, and regardless of our tailored expectations. I'm so happy Union City will have a voice in the discussion.

More than any single organized event or celebration.....or any single meeting or discussion....or even more than the need for an accurately supportive article or news story, what the Union City Police Department needs right now is what you are already doing…...and have been doing all along: Being there for us, as we for you. Our officers feel and appreciate your support, and they know that with our continued engagement, the best example of police community trust can be on display right here in Union City. The tenor of our engagement.....being good and efficient at what we do.....exuding professionalism......and sharing in the pride of our success, is what makes us tick.

As we continue to navigate this horrible mess, we have reminded all of our officers and personnel to:
• Stay focused.
• Keep a healthy perspective.
• Look after each other, not just physically and tactically, but also supportively.
• Know it's okay to be angry or frustrated; just channel it toward our collective resolve.
• Know that they are widely loved, wholly appreciated, and strongly supported by our community.
• Be well, be right, and be safe.
• Know that we'll get through this dark time in American policing. We will.

Chief McAllister

--Image via City of Union City