HARTFORD - The pain felt across the nation, is felt deeply with law enforcement officers in Connecticut as they try to grapple with losing their brothers in blue once again, this time in Baton Rouge.
Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Kelly Grant said she’s left feeling speechless after hearing about the news of another police shooting.
She said each tragedy opens new dialogue within the police force but just like every other day, law enforcement officers remain vigilant and rely on their training.
“We certainly do sit around and talk about it, what can we do differently, what can we do better,” she said. “But we are fully aware that you can make all the changes in the world and unfortunately something like this could still happen.”
Grant said they must stay true to their duty to protect the communities they serve.
“As law enforcement, we are gonna be there no matter what. It is our job to go to, when everybody is running from. That is not going to stop. That is not going to change,” she said. “We’re going to continue to do our jobs. We took this job for a reason, and that is to help people and we’re going to continue to help people.”
Hartford city activist Rev. Henry Brown said he is deeply saddened that innocent officers are being murdered.
“The target is on their back, I believe, because of a few officers that we know are bad and we allowed them to be a part of the system. They have got to go," Brown said.
He believes we’ll find peace when we stop blaming all police for the actions of a few, and open up honest dialogue.
“ It's going to take for us to come together as Americans. We can`t be divided over this issue. We need to talk about racism,” he said. “We have to do a better job with our broken justice system.”
Brown urges the community to work with police, saying the relationship in local communities is good, and we need to stay on that path.
Grant echoes the importance of working together, saying community members need to have a “see something, say something,” mentality.
“We just remind everybody it is everybody's responsibility to keep their community and their state safe: law enforcement, residents, everybody,” she said.
And Chief John Salvatore of the Monroe Police Department and President of the Connecticut Police Chefs Association released the following statement Sunday on the Baton Rouge attack:
The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) wants to express its deepest sympathy to the community of Baton Rouge, Louisiana following news of today's murder of two police officers and one sheriff's deputy, as well as the wounding of three other law enforcement personnel. This latest senseless event is another attempt to violently rip apart the very fabric of the nation.
The motive for these shootings is as yet unknown, while the investigation is very active and ongoing, but one thing is apparent, those of us in leadership roles, whether elected or appointed public officials, members of the clergy, civic or social activists, must be careful in the words we choose for the comments we make concerning problems in our society. Genuine discussions about police cannot be comprised solely of accusations against officers who are sworn to protect all citizens, not just a particular race or class of people. Careless statements can encourage those intent on harming law enforcement to act on their beliefs, no matter how misguided. Violence against police can never be excused or justified because of a person's grievance or perception of mistreatment by law enforcement officers.
The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association extends its sincerest condolences to the people of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department and especially, the families, friends and fellow officers of the fallen and injured. We pray for them and for our country to recover and mend what divides this nation.
