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Eric Garner

'Blue' rallies show support for law enforcement

Linh Ta
The Des Moines Register
Des Moines residents gather to rally and thank Des Moines Police Officers for their service during a walk Dec. 27, 2014.

As thousands of law enforcement officers and civilians alike gathered Saturday to pay their final respects to one of two New York officers gunned down as they sat in their patrol car, scores of people joined in solidarity at pro-police rallies across the country.

The rallies were planned to show support for police in the wake of several high-profile police shootings of unarmed civilians, including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in New York, and the Dec. 20 killings of New York officers Rafael Ramos and Wejian Liu.

Ramos' funeral coincided with the planned rallies, many of which were started through social media using the Twitter hashtag #BlueLivesMatter. Funeral services were also held Saturday for a police officer killed in the line of duty Dec. 21 in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Similar events were held or planned in cities such as Atlantic City, Houston and Cleveland on Saturday.

After walking with 100 people several blocks to the Des Moines Police Station on Saturday, Bruce Heilman did something he's never done in his 65 years: He thanked a police officer.

"I'm ashamed of myself for never having said 'thank you' to a cop," Heilman said. "So a long overdue — thank you."

A week ago, on a whim, Heilman decided to hold a walk to thank Des Moines Police officers for their service to the city. Though he wasn't sure if anyone would show up, he felt it was important to express his support.

But people did show up, including Marcia Coughennower, who has two sons in the Des Moines Police Department.

"They've come under attack," Coughennower said. "They're only as good or bad as the society that hires them."

While Heilman said he does not want to minimize the losses families have suffered from the death of loved ones shot by officers, he also wanted to show appreciation for the officers in the city, and knew other people wanted to do the same.

Maj. Doug Harvey, interim police chief, spoke to the group and expressed his appreciation for their efforts.

"We need your support, because you allow us to police you in the city of Des Moines, and we try our very best," Harvey said.

Though Heilman said the rally wasn't done to express whether police officers are in the right or wrong with recent current events, he said he hopes it shows that people appreciate uniformed men and women.

"I just hope it reaffirmed what I know they know," Heilman said. "They're doing the best they can in an impossible situation."

A similar rally was held Friday in Dubuque, and attracted about 50 participants, according to the Associated Press.

In Denver, more than 200 people gathered at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver to show their support for law enforcement after months of criticism and attacks on police.

Pro-police supporters who gathered at Civic Center Park in Denver on Dec. 27, 2014, observe a moment of silence for two New York officers who were gunned down.

"They are mostly good people who actually care about their communities and it is hard to see other people tear them down on a daily basis," said Kim Snetzinger who showed up to participate in the rally.

Those in law enforcement will tell you the job has always been dangerous, but it hasn't always been so thankless. This year's events involving the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner brought on an outpouring of anger towards police for what many see as excessive force.

"You can always find somebody to say something negative about you. But we say thank you. Thank you for running towards the gun shots. Thank you for securing our neighborhoods," said Larry Stevenson, a former police officer who is now a pastor.

Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith told the crowd that most officers use force rarely and justifiably. After the rally, he said he fears recent protests and killings will widen the divide between officers and the public.

Smith said he tries to show his deputies that they still have the community's respect despite what they may see on the street or on the news.

Some people at the rally held signs saying "blue lives matter," a play off the "black lives matter" chant heard at brutality protests.

In Cleveland, a Sea of Blue rally drew hundreds of people to Public Square on Saturday.

Many of them wore the symbolic police color blue.

"It's time that we be the peacemakers and it's time that we bring our community together," said Mary Jo Graves, who organized the rally.

Graves is a police dispatcher in Brooklyn, and a friend and family member to patrol officers.

"You can't beat this blue line. There's no way you can beat it," she said. "Our family and our communities are really one hundred percent behind our officers, and I think the people for police are going to greatly outnumber the people that are against it."

Graves was overwhelmed by the number of people responding to a call for support since she started organizing Sea of Blue on Facebook just over a week ago. Their event page shows more than 5,000 people planned to attend the demonstration.

Supporters who rallied outside the Houston Police Department on Dec. 27, 2014, to show their support for local law enforcement held signs with sayings such as "Blue  lives matter too."

In Houston, after weeks of watching protests against police actions, supporters rallied Dec. 20 to show their support for law enforcement alongside those critical of police.

Much of the focus at the rally was on the pending Harris County grand jury decision, on whether or not to indict a veteran Houston police officer for shooting Jordan Baker to death in January.

Officer Juventino Castro thought Baker matched the description of a burglary suspect. Castro shot him when he said Baker charged at him. Baker was unarmed. The grand jury could decide whether to indict Officer Castro as early as Tuesday.

"I feel like there is going to be a big uproar if he's not indicted, for the simple fact this hits home," said protester Tina Nash.

For officers and their families, the last few weeks have been a challenge, with police finding more distrust, and at times hostility, when they respond to a scene.

"They're not guaranteed to come home every night and it's just a shame what they're going through," said Lindsey Sneed, the wife of a police officer. "They're out there to help people and people are just bringing them down and being rude to them and just the complete opposite of what they're there for."

• In Seattle, a group of about 20 demonstrators rallied in support of law enforcement officers outside police headquarters Saturday.

"There are two sides to everything," said organizer Bruce Brewer, who added those in attendance came "to support our officers. To let them know we care."

In Murfreesboro, Tenn., an estimated 300 people gathered Friday on the grounds of the Rutherford County Courthouse lawn for the Standing with the Thin Blue Line rally.

"There have been so many demonstrations across the country here lately that we don't feel like it's showing police officers in a fair light," said Brandon Curran, one of three Rutherford County men who organized the rally Friday night as well as a smaller one in Nashville on Monday evening.

People hold candles while attending the Standing with the Thin Blue Line rally supporting police officers Dec. 26, 2014, in front of the Rutherford County Courthouse in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

In addition to showing support, the gathering honored the 114 law enforcement personnel who were killed this year in the line of duty — including the two New York City officers who were gunned down earlier this month.

"We want to let them know we are sharing in their grief right now and we are standing behind them and we appreciate the job they go out and do every day," Curran said.

On hand to read names of fallen officers was Eric Drake, who recently graduated from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Citizens Police Academy.

"All (my daughter and son) have been seeing on television is a bunch of people laying in the streets and looting in stores. ... My children wanted to come tonight to see how a peaceful rally takes place. (We hope) law enforcement officers are encouraged to keep doing what they do for us," said Drake, who brought his daughter and son to the rally.

In Nashville, about 50 people assembled Monday outside the Metro Nashville Police Department holding signs saying "Police Lives Matter" and "Thank you MNPD."

"No one is standing up for them, and it feels like they don't have a public voice like everything else has," Curran said. "We just want to stand, and the community to see that we're standing. And we want the officers to know that we're sharing in their grief and we're standing with them."

Contributing: Ryan Haarer, KUSA-TV, Denver; WKYC-TV, Cleveland;Alice Barr,KHOU-TV, Houston; Nancy De Gennaro, The (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Daily News Journal; Holly Meyer, The Tennessean; Alison Morrow, KING-TV, Seattle, and The Associated Press

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