Philadelphia Police Pay Tribute To Officers Killed In Baton Rouge
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police paid tribute to the three officers killed in the line of duty in Baton Rouge Sunday.
At the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in the Northeast, black bunting hangs over the doorway and an American flag outside flies at half-staff.
The tributes were first displayed after lone gunman Micah Johnson shot and killed five officers in Dallas on July 7.
"We mourn for the families of all the lost and fallen heroes," said Roosevelt Poplar, FOP Vice President. "We send their condolences to them and their families, their loved ones."
Now the board outside the FOP Lodge also displays a message of support for Baton Rouge, a city that lost three officers Sunday in an ambush on law enforcement. Three other officers were injured before shooter Gavin Long was killed.
Though Long's motive is unknown at this point, the attack happened amid rising tensions between police officers and communities across the country.
In North Philadelphia, Protesters took to the streets to demand justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black men shot and killed by police officers earlier this month.
"Everday, I fear for the safety of the police officers, I fear for the safety of our citizens," Poplar said. "You have the one percent out there, no matter where you go, that just don't want to abide by the law."
The latest shooting targeting police prompted safety precautions here, where officers are now required to patrol in pairs.
"We have to come up with a way to get the community trusting police officers again, police officers trusting the community again, there has to be an answer out there some where," Poplar said.
Philadelphia is preparing for tens of thousands of protesters during the Democratic National Convention in a week.
The police department will be receiving help from U.S. Capitol Police, the Marines and even the National Guard, if needed.
