Local law enforcement leaders asking for heated rhetoric to stop



SEATTLE -- Men and women in the law enforcement community across Western Washington are being told be extra cautious in light of the second ambush-style killings of police officers.

Local leaders say it is also important to listen to one another and work together during these difficult times.

“I think we are going to have more conversations that we have ever had about race relations."

Washington State Patrol Capt. Monica Alexander is hoping the tense climate will not keep people away from serving in law enforcement.

“I started looking into being a law enforcement because of the Rodney King riots and I wanted to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem,” Alexander said.

Once a flight attendant, Alexander is now the first African American woman to reach the top ranks of WSP. Alexander, along with others leaders,  are asking for the heated rhetoric on all sides to stop.

“We are not going to play this game where people want us to divide and polarize,” Bremerton Police Chief Steve Strachan said.

“It’s so easy to get hate speak out there and broadcast it to everybody via social media; that’s part of the problem,” King County Sheriff John Urquhart said.

Concerned about response times, Urquhart made the tough decision not to order his deputies to work in pairs, something Seattle police are continuing to do for extra safety.

“It means calls for service would take forever for officers to get there. We patrol a huge geographic area 16 times the size of the city of Seattle with half of the officers,” Urquhart said.

So the message for law enforcement is to be vigilant but don’t overreact. Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor reached out to his staff Monday morning in writing.

“These are difficult times for the profession. These are the times when we are especially called upon to step up, to be extra alert and careful” Pastor said.

Local leaders say public support is crucial for morale in these times.

“I’ve been trying to tell my people, the community does support us. The vast majority of our community, of any color, supports their police department,” Urquhart said.

“By and large our community appreciates the work that we do,” Alexander said.

Both Urquhart and Alexander said many people in the community are showing support, with a simple thank you going a long way during these times.