OKC Police To Increase Presence At Peaceful Marches, Vigils

Friday, July 8th 2016, 11:22 am

By: News 9

Oklahoma City police said they will increase presence at peaceful marches and vigils following a deadly ambush on Dallas police officers.

Snipers ambushed police officers in downtown Dallas Thursday night, as a peaceful protest turned into chaos. Five officers were killed. Seven other officers and two civilians were wounded.

Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty held a news conference Friday morning, expressing his condolences to the officers and their families down at the Dallas Police Department.

“Our hearts go out to the family members of the officers, and the officers of the Dallas Police Department,” Citty said during a news conference Friday morning.

Chief Citty said "This shouldn't be an indictment against peaceful protestors that have a message a legitimate message and concerns @NEWS9 — Adrianna Iwasinski (@AIwasinski) July 8, 2016

Citty said it bothers and concerns him that police officers are being targeted by extremists, and that officers’ lives are on the line on a daily basis.

Chief Citty says he woke up wondering about doubling up officers on patrols in light of #Dallasshooting. Seattle PD is doing it. @NEWS9 — Adrianna Iwasinski (@AIwasinski) July 8, 2016

“It makes it hard to police a community when you are worried on every call you may be ambushed,” Citty said.

Citty said he doesn’t want the Dallas attacks to reflect on those individuals who have a peaceful message to send. But it is concerning because there are people out there who take that message to another level.

Flowers and cards have been slowly trickling into the Oklahoma City Police Department Friday morning to show their support for the men and women of the police force who put their lives on the line.

Police confirm they will have an increased presence at peaceful marches and vigils, and the Chief will be looking at possibly doubling up patrols in some areas -- something their gang unit already does.

Flags are flying at half staff at the Oklahoma City Police Fraternal Order of Police Headquarters to honor the five Dallas police officers who died in the line of duty.

Oklahoma City FOP President John George said citizens must helps support officers doing their jobs, and he believes officers need more protection, including more rifles on the force.

Reporter Adrianna Iwasinski will have more on this story on News 9 at Noon.