Dallas Shootings: Hogan Calls for Moment of Silence, Anne Arundel Police Patrolling in Pairs

As a result of the sniper attack that killed five law enforcement officers and wounded seven others in Dallas Thursday, the Anne Arundel County Police Department is taking additional steps to ensure officer safety.

Police Chief Timothy Altomare has asked that two officers respond to every call, even routine calls.

"We sometimes will cancel our backup on calls that seem to be routine, he has asked us to stop doing that," public information officer Corporal Jacklyn Davis told Patch. "We always have a heightened awareness of our surroundings and our partners' surroundings; this does not change how we function or how we do our jobs, it is how we are trained and how we live our lives."

The Dallas officers were monitoring a peaceful march through downtown in response to two fatal officer-involved shootings of black men. The march was nearing completion late Thursday when it is believed that snipers from two different locations opened fire on police.

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Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown said in a Friday news conference that one shooting suspect told a police negotiator that he was upset about the recent police shootings. “The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers," Brown said.

The Annapolis Police Department said it was saddened by the loss of fellow law enforcement members.

"This incident obviously raises the level of awareness our officers will exercise while in the public environment. There have been no threats against members of our agency," Annapolis Police Capt. Scott Williams told Patch. "We feel we have a strong relationship with the community and have reached out to community leaders to keep the lines of communication open in light of recent events."

Anne Arundel County officers are also in mourning.

"Our hearts are broken for our brothers and their family members, we wish we could do more to help them in their time of need," Cpl. Davis said.

Anne Arundel officers will continue to uphold their sworn oath to protect life, protect property and sustain viable communities with the utmost professionalism, she said.

"We also know that we have a lot of support from our citizens here in Anne Arundel County and for that we are thankful," Davis said.

In the wake of the tragedy, several prominent Maryland voices took to social media to grieve for those slain and express solidarity with the Dallas Police Department.

Among those reacting to the Dallas shootings were local law enforcement agencies and elected officials, including Gov. Larry Hogan.

Hogan urged Maryland residents to observe a moment of silence at 1 p.m. ET Friday when the city of Dallas holds a moment of silence.

"Let us mourn the deaths of those who put their lives on the line to keep Dallas safe; let us pray for the safety of the men and women in blue all across the country; and let us take time today and every day to thank our brave officers for their service and reassure them that they do not stand alone," Hogan said in a statement.

Obvious tensions between communities and law enforcement in Maryland and across the country are real and cannot be ignored or swept under the rug, the governor said.

"But there is so much more that unites us than divides us. Now is clearly a time for profound sorrow, but also for reflection, understanding and above all, compassion," Hogan said.

More at Patch:

• Snipers Kill 5 Officers, Wound 7, During Protest
• 'Blue Lives Matter' Says LAPD Chief Charlie Beck
• Dallas Attacks 'Vicious, Calculated and Despicable,' Says President Obama

State police agencies, as well as members of Congress, sent out condolences on Twitter and Facebook: