Public Shows Support For Police During 'Back The Blue'
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) - In honor of fallen Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth, police all over the state are remembering in their own ways. In return they're being honored by members of the community as well.
It was up to every department to figure out the safest way to flash their lights Friday morning to mark the beginning of Deputy Goforth's funeral. And while many civilians chose to wear blue ribbons, it was up to them how they chose to say thank you to their local police.
Flashing police lights are a universal symbol of emergency that often scare drivers who see them approaching. But Friday those lights were offered as a sign of love for a fallen fellow officer.
"I love that. I think it's a good rallying point for everyone to come together as a community to be able to support our officers and what they do for us," James Hillstrom said.
In support of the Back The Blue movement, Hillstrom brought his young family to Plano Police headquarters to deliver lunch to officers on duty.
"They just really deserve a lot of praise and honor and respect for what they do every day in putting their life on the lines to protect us and give us our freedoms," Hillstrom said.
After a series of recent high-profile murders of police officers, Plano Police Officer David Tilley says the response from most people he meets has been overwhelmingly supportive.
"And there's just a small percentage out there who we need to be concerned about, and we can't, even though we need to be cautious, we can't consider everyone out there to get us," Tilley said.
That's why Hillstrom hopes his children will grow up to respect law enforcement and remember this moment as an offering of friendship.
"Well I just hope they just realize that we as a community, we're here to serve each other, and that police officers and all law enforcement are here to help us," Hillstrom said.
In addition to the flashing of emergency lights, Governor Greg Abbott also called for Texas flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Deputy Goforth.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
