An ambush of police in Dallas on July 7, 2016, killed five officers, and after the shooting, East Tennessee residents showed support for the Oak Ridge Police Department, sending cake, flowers, and food, and buying lunches, among other things. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
After an ambush of police in Dallas killed five officers on July 7, the Oak Ridge community rallied around its police department, and Police Chief Jim Akagi said he’s thankful.
People bought lunches for officers anonymously, and residents and organizations dropped off or sent hot meals, cakes, snacks, flowers, and pastries, Akagi said during a July 12 interview. Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch addressed the department during a roll call last week, and someone bought the chief’s lunch as well.
“I cannot thank them enough,” Akagi said of the show of community support. “It’s just the little things: They mean a lot to us.”
Akagi said Oak Ridge is lucky to have a police department with the scale, the talent, and the officers that it has.
But, “the Oak Ridge Police Department is even more lucky to have a community that supports them and has their back,” he said. [Read more…]
