Local law enforcement officers stay vigilant after Iowa attacks
After another ambush-style killing of law enforcement officers, police in Jefferson City are continuing to cope with the dangers of their job.
“It’s in the back of our heads because we are human beings,” Capt. Doug Shoemaker, with Jefferson City police, said. “So we are trying to reinforce amongst our officers to continue to stay as safe as they can out there, to be mindful, to watch. You just never know when things like this can come up.”
Urbandale Officer Justin Martin and Des Moines Sgt. Tony Bemino were shot and killed while sitting in their patrol cars early Wednesday morning. Scott Michael Greene turned himself in hours after the killings.
Wednesday’s killings mark at least the fourth ambush-style attack on law enforcement officers this year, after Dallas, Baton Rouge, Lousiana, and Palm Springs, California.
“It is coming to that point where officers come to work and wonder, ‘Is today the day?'” Shoemaker said.
Shoemaker said the Jefferson City Police Department is constantly upgrading and updating their equipment to give its officers the most protection possible. Shoemaker said the voter-approved half-cent sales tax allows the department to afford the equipment when its standard budget doesn’t.
“Some of that has been adding to our existing rifle inventory for our officers,” Shoemaker said. “We see members of our criminal element getting better and better armed. And our responsibility in law enforcement is to be one better than the criminals and we have to have the tools to do that and we have to have the training to do that.”
Shoemaker said the danger of the job takes a toll on the mental health of officers. But he said the support from the community is one of the things that keeps his officers’ heads up through the adversity.
“The men and women that wear the badge here are doing this job because they want to not because they have to do it,” Shoemaker said. “Serving and protecting the community is something we take great pride in and we need their help in doing so.”
