KC area police officers feel ‘under the gun’ from domestic terrorism aimed at them

Kansas City, Kan., Police Chief Terry Zeigler calls it a new and unnerving form of domestic terrorism that seems to be increasing.

The targeted killing of three police officers in Baton Rouge, La., following similar attacks in Dallas and other areas around the country is affecting both officers and the communities they serve, Zeigler said.

“We know that officers are feeling under the gun,” he said. “And I think anxiety is creeping up in our communities.”

Zeigler said he believes people committing such violent acts are being influenced by the proliferation of online hate speech.

“Somebody needs to start paying attention,” he said. “Somebody posts these horrible messages, and then you have these lone gunmen reading it and going out and doing something.”

Zeigler said he hopes federal law enforcement agencies will start tracking such online hate speech to prevent future acts of violence.

Like departments in other parts of the country, Zeigler said that Kansas City, Kan., officers are now patrolling in two-officer cars.

In Kansas City, two officers respond to all emergency calls, but for a short time Sunday, non-emergency calls were handled by two-officer crews as well.

Kansas City Police Capt. Stacey Graves said the recent acts of violence directed at police are a vivid reminder to officers that they must always remain vigilant.

“Officers have always known they are potential targets, which is why we constantly train and are reminded to stay vigilant and avoid complacency,” Graves said.

While the incidents are troubling, they also have elicited an outpouring of support for police officers from members of the community.

“Some have brought food to the stations, and many have stopped officers and thanked them,” she said.

And that kind of support is much appreciated.

“We know many people care, support us and greatly appreciate what we do,” said Lt. Kelli Bailiff of the Wyandotte County sheriff’s office. “That truly means a lot.”

While Bailiff said officers and deputies may be feeling an “extra sense of danger,” they are committed to upholding the oaths they took to serve their communities.

“But that does not mean the recent incidents don’t cause us great pain and grief for our fellow brothers, sisters and their families,” Bailiff said. “But we will not compromise our positions by allowing these horrible acts to define or divide us from the communities we serve.”

Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forté wrote in a blog about how incidents like those in Dallas and Baton Rouge also affect the families of officers.

“Few people in the country right now are as worried when their loved ones go to work as the families of those who work in law enforcement,” the chief wrote. “With the continued violence against police in our country, their spouses, children, parents, siblings and friends are experiencing anxiety and fear.”

Forté stressed in his post that he cares about those family members and their well-being and thanked them for all they do.

“We, as members of a law enforcement agency, need support and care during these difficult and scary times, but so do our loved ones,” he wrote.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 5:34 PM with the headline "KC area police officers feel ‘under the gun’ from domestic terrorism aimed at them."