City mourns, celebrates lives of fallen officers (VIDEO)

Sgt. Michael Smith was described as a “Cop’s Cop.” Many officers may call others that, but it actually was what the Dallas Police Department bestowed on Sgt. Smith back in 2010 when he was honored with the “Cops Cop Award.” His accolades as a Dallas police officer were many. It included 86 Commendations, the Certificate of Merit Police Shield, Certificate of Achievement Award, Officer of the Month and Officer of the Year, among others. Read more →

Brent Thompson was such an authentic, constant hero to his family that his younger brother Darrell struggled to grasp the outside world’s outpouring of support and keen focus on the fallen Dallas Area Rapid Transit police officer after he died in a sniper’s ambush in downtown Dallas on July 7.
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Patrick Zamarripa’s life was one of service. As a child, he served as an altar boy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Fort Worth. Following graduation from Paschal High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving three tours in Iraq. When Zamarripa returned home to Texas, he became a police officer in Dallas. Read more →

Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens was the biggest man in most rooms — and cars, for that matter. At 6 feet 4 inches and 300 pounds, the southern California native cut an intimidating figure, topped off by the tattoos that ran down both his arms. But “Meat,” as he was affectionately called by his peers, was anything but an intimidating personality. Read more →

The aftermath of a deadly shooting in downtown Dallas on July 7 left a city heartbroken as five police officers lost their lives when a lone gunman opened fire after a protest and rally. Over the course of the next week, civic and faith leaders joined the community and the nation in honoring those officers who died as well as those who continue to serve and protect. Read more →

In Bishop Kevin J. Farrell’s homily from the July 9 Mass for Hope and Healing at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the bishop asks that we all pray for our police officers, their families and all people who have suffered violence in this world. Read more →

Bishop Kevin J. Farrell called for prayers, hope, healing and unity during as he spoke with other faith and civic leaders at an interfaith prayer vigil at Thanks-Giving Square on July 8. The prior day, a lone gunman killed five police officers and injured nine others as well as two civilians in a sniper attack in downtown Dallas. Read more →

It started with a single candle. Notes of encouragement, support and heartfelt condolences followed as did streamers, flowers, banners and balloons. A grieving city heaped its well-wishes, its heartache and its unending support upon a pair of squad cars parked in front of the Dallas Police Department headquarters. Read more →