NC officials journey to Dallas to mourn slain officers
DALLAS (WTVD) -- Funeral services took place Wednesday for three of the officers killed in an ambush last Thursday in Dallas. Among the mourners were officers from several North Carolina law enforcement agencies.
ORIGINAL STORY: OFFICERS KILLED IN DALLAS AMBUSH
Officials from the Triangle and Fayetteville area traveled to Dallas to pay their respects and honor their brothers in blue.
The Raleigh Police Department sent six of its officers, as did the Fayetteville Police Department.
"Each and every time a law enforcement officer dies in the line of duty it hits home," said Fayetteville officer Chase Robinson. "I know it sounds cliché at this point, 'cause you hear it so many times, but it is literally losing a brother or sister."
The mass shooting last Thursday was the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 9/11, according to statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Five officers died and six others were wounded.
The Fayetteville officers are staying at a hotel about two blocks away from where the gunshots were fired and chaos erupted.
"It's definitely something that we don't want to have to be here for. We would love to just visit here and support them from a day-to-day basis, instead of a sad case like this," said Fayetteville spokesperson Shawn Strepay.
ABC11 spoke with the local officeres after they attended DART officer Brent Thompson's funeral. They said thousands of people were there and it was an emotional service.
"It's really just a very overwhelming experience," said Strepay.
"It was insane just the amount of hugs that was going around. People are past the point of shaking hands," said Robinson.
The six visited several memorials, snapped pictures, and shared them with us.
They also met with Dallas officers at headquarters and were given a patch to bring back to the Sandhills.
"It shows their appreciation for us coming to travel and stand together as one as a law enforcement as a whole," said Fayetteville officer Kendra Fair.
The group was joined by another law enforcement official from the area. Gene Lambert flew out of RDU Wednesday night. He is a Wake County reserve deputy and has been with the office more than 30 years.
Lambert shelled out thousands of dollars to go to Dallas. There was no cost too high to keep him from paying his respects in person.
"This is a direct assault on the profession," said Lambert. "I have this deep sense of loss of my comrades. Irregardless of where they are in such an event, I feel compelled to go and take part in the events."
