Locals react to ambush, massacre of Dallas police

YOUNGSTOWN

A police ambush in Dallas that left five officers dead and seven others shot could happen anywhere, but local law-enforcement officials say the relationships they’ve built with members of the minority community go a long way toward avoiding such tragedy.

Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally said, however: “All it takes is one event to upset the good work that’s been done.”

The ambush came on the heels of the death of two black men – one in Baton Rouge, La., and the other in Falcon Heights, Minn. – shot by police officers. The man who opened fire on Dallas police at a peaceful rally was black and told police before he was killed that he did it in response to officers shooting black people.

“There’s anger, fear and mistrust” among blacks toward law enforcement, said the Rev. Kenneth Simon, pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church in Youngstown. “We can’t ignore their pain and that the tension is real.”

The Rev. Mr. Simon added: “The potential [for a deadly police-connected shooting] is here because racism is here. We need to have the honest conversation on race. It affects every aspect of life. It can happen here.”

Youngstown Police Chief Robin Lees said, “You have to be cognizant of what’s around you, but if someone’s going to do that, it’s difficult to stop them. In Dallas as gunfire erupted, the crowd ran and police moved to engage [the sniper]. Officers were trained in active shootings. Unfortunately, they didn’t realize they were the targets.”

Lees said he is “shocked by an unprovoked attack” and that it’s particularly troubling it happened to officers providing security at a peaceful protest.

Youngstown officers are trained on “defensive tactics to defend themselves,” but what to do when snipers are trying to kill them isn’t part of that training, Lees said.

“Officers go into high-crime areas with extreme levels of violence,” he said. “Our mission is to protect the public and prevent crime when we can. That will continue to be our focus.”

Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th, a retired Youngstown police officer, said: “I’m so ready to cry. I’m just sickened by it, all of it. ... It was a little, quiet, peaceful protest march that turned into total chaos and mass murder.”

Davis said the city police department sometimes faces criticism from citizens, but that “doesn’t mean there isn’t a good relationship. Youngstown residents have been supportive of the police department.”

Campbell police are considering some changes, said Chief Drew Rauzan.

Read more local reaction in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy,com.