Dallas Memorial For Fallen Police Officers To Be Removed
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - More than a week after a deadly officer ambush, a symbol of the community's support for police officers, with the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), will become a part of history today. The impromptu memorial built outside Dallas police headquarters, to honor and remember five police officers shot and killed by a sniper, is being taken down.
A good part of the original memorial was gathered and moved indoors ahead of pop-up rain showers last week -- the portion that remains, consisting of hand drawn cards, heartfelt signs, and black and blue decorations made by thousands, will be taken down and moved tonight.
The world watched the memorial grow over the last 12 days… watched people standing silent in grief… watched police officers and civilians cry in despair… and watched strangers set aside their differences to pray for peace and healing.
While the mementos and well wishes will be removed Dallas police are making sure the heartfelt gifts are not forgotten. Archivists with the Dallas Public Library will comb through items left at the memorial and anything that can be saved will be. Everything will be documented, preserved and stored in the library's history and archives collection.
Cindie Whittle went to see the memorial before lunchtime and said, "It actually it makes me feel warm inside, because this is love. This is what God wanted us to do. You can't get any deeper than this."
While pausing to reflect, Felicia Rettig had hopes for the future. "The police, they're really doing a hard job and we all need to come together as a community," she said.
A lot of local police officers have been working funeral details this week, in addition to their regular shifts, and have not had an opportunity to see the memorial. So, the tribute will stay in place until 5 p.m. for those officers and others wanting to see or add to the memorial.
As that symbol of love and support is preserved for future generations, today is also the final day of funeral services for the fallen. Officer Michael Krol was laid to rest in his home state of Michigan today.
A large U.S. flag hung from fire trucks as hundreds of people filed into St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church to be a part of Krol's catholic funeral mass.
Krol worked for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office in Michigan for several years. The Sheriff there, Benny Napoleon, said, "There's not much you can say at a time like this. I've been through this way too many times. And I've had the unfortunate responsibility of meeting with families, when I was in Detroit, that have lost a loved one, who was a member of the police department. And all we can say is that we love you and we're here with you."
More than 150 Dallas police officers, and scores of others from across the country, made the trip to attend the service.
Standing at the memorial outside DPD headquarters and remembering the officer who died, North Texan Richard Encinia said, "I think this is the perfect time to come and pay respects. We're going to miss them but never forget them."
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