Cops squarely in firing line

WASHINGTON: It was morning in Dallas when police chief David Brown gave the press conference about an attack aimed at his officers.

“We barely survived the intent of this suspect,” he said. “Some officers say we are very lucky.”

That was June 2015, right after a man had attacked Dallas police headquarters in an armoured vehicle and started firing an automatic rifle and shotgun into police cars and the building.

But although his officers were forced to take cover, they all emerged alive.

That luck didn’t hold this time around, when officers providing security for a group of protesters –protesters who say police are too prone to use violence against black Americans – became the targets . Five officers died and seven were wounded, along with two civilians.

Depending upon how the news unfolds, it could exacerbate tensions between the African American population and authorities.

Further complicating the picture, many police officers – like Brown himself – are black and bristle at the allegation that US police are insensitive to the needs of black Americans, if not outright belligerent.

However, Brown was having none of it yesterday.

“We are heartbroken,” he said. “There are no words to describe the atrocity that occurred to our city.

“All I know is that this must stop. This divisiveness between our police and our citizens.” – ANA– dpa