Sarasota Police Chief Speaks Out On Dallas

Sarasota, FL — As America grapples with the aftermath of Thursday’s sniper attack in Dallas, Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino sat down and penned a memo to her officers thanking them for their service.

DiPino’s memo was sent to all personnel Friday morning in the wake of what is being called the deadliest attack on law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001. Five law enforcement officers were killed and seven others injured when at least two snipers opened fire on a protest over the recent police-related killings of two black men.

See also:

• Dallas Shootings: Snipers Kill 5 Officers, Wound 7, During Protest Over Police Killings Of Black Men: Updated
• Dallas Shooting: Tampa Bay Reacts

DiPino’s words to the Sarasota Police Department are as follows:

Thank you for choosing this honorable profession. You didn't pick it to get rich or famous. You picked it to make a difference and protect our community. Thank you for standing on that thin blue line. You are the guardians of our great nation. Thank you is not enough but you need to hear it. Thank you.

Sarasota police also noted an outpouring of support for law enforcement from local residents.

In the wake of Thursday’s shooting, residents have “reached out to us, commenting on our social media pages and sharing your support,” the agency wrote on Facebook. “We appreciated it now more than ever. Thank you.”

Sarasota Police officers have been authorized to wear a mourning badge shroud in “honor and respect for the five officers killed,” the agency also noted.

In nearby Bradenton, Chief Melanie Bevan also reached out to her officers Friday morning. In a memo penned for the department, Bevan thanked officers for their service and sacrifice and urged them to maintain professionalism in the face of adversity.

“Incidents as this strike at our core, yet remind us of the ultimate sacrifice we are willing to pay, every day we pin on our badge, to ensure our Bradenton community remains safe,” Bevan wrote. “And while we collectively grieve for our fallen officers, don’t allow this shameless act to detract from our vigilance, as we go about our duties in order that none of our ranks fall victim to a similar fate. As your Chief, I maintain great pride in all of you and understand the personal sacrifices you make while serving as guardians of our great nation.”

Photo courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department Facebook page