Local law enforcement officials say they’re in disbelief after the attack on police in Dallas.
Deputy Chip Parker with the Potter County Sheriff’s Office says he is in shock and heartbroken after the loss of several police officers.
“It is just a hit, it is a hit on our profession. It is a hit on what we do and I mean it is a tragic, tragic loss,” said Parker.
Sheriff Brian Thomas says it impacts every law enforcement officer across the country.
“It is not so much scary for us, that is what we signed up to do. We are here to fight the evil and that is what we will do. But you have to worry about your family,” added Sheriff Thomas.
The fear of the families is making it difficult to find more people willing to do the job,
Thomas says when he started thousands of people would apply to fill positions and now that is down to a few hundred.
“It is getting tough to find people that want to do this job, you know they are getting bashed in the media, and I saw we, it is we as a law enforcement community and it is all over a couple of bad things,” said Thomas.
Deputy Parker says Thursday’s events will not only impact people wanting to be an officer, but will also spread more fear.
“You are nervous about somebody driving up to talk to you, or you are nervous about somebody walking up to the car and you don’t want to seem callous but at the same time you don’t want to be ambushed,” added Parker.
Parker and Thomas say they will continue to do what they signed up to do, and keep the community safe.