Area police departments and other officials expressed their grief over the attack on Dallas, Tex., police officers during a protest march Thursday. This shooting follows the police killings of two African-American men earlier this week.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner issued the following statement on the Dallas shootings:
"The ambush attack on Dallas police officers is outrageous. The men and women who work every day to protect everyone, including those exercising their right to free speech, deserve our respect and support," he said.
"The shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota that led to last night's protests are deeply distressing. All of these events speak to the lack of unity and trust in many of our communities and underscores the urgency in addressing that lack of trust.
"Diana and I pray that the victims, their families, and our entire country find strength, healing and peace to rebuild trust among our neighbors and communities," Rauner concluded.
The DeKalb Police Department issued a statement on its Facebook page Friday:
"Our hearts are heavy this morning as we contemplate the shooting deaths and injuries of several police officers and civilians in Dallas yesterday. Violence committed upon innocent and unsuspecting victims is always a tragedy, regardless of when or where it occurs. As your police department, we stand to defend against any acts of hatred and violence and remain committed to enhance the quality of life in DeKalb in partnership with the community. We therefore encourage you to do your part in being vigilant, standing against any criminal actions, and educating others about the detriments of lawless behavior. As always, we appreciate the continued support of the community as we try our best to keep all of us safe."
From the Freeport Police Department:
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen Officers in Dallas, Texas. Hearing about the senseless acts of violence in Dallas is heartbreaking. There is no excuse or justification for the acts of the cowards who brutally murdered Police Officers who were doing nothing more than protecting the rights of their citizens to peacefully protest."
A statement from Dixon Police Department's Facebook page:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Dallas POlice Department, the police officers shot, injured and killed, and their families. This is a very sad day. The senseless violence has to stop."
Chris Southwood, President of the Illinois State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, called what happened in Dallas "a purely evil, cowardly act."
“Those responsible should face the swiftest and most severe justice that our nation allows,” he added. “The fallen are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting the community they loved. Ironically, these heroes, some of whom were shot in the back, were protecting participants at an anti-police protest. Our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers go to the fallen and their families, the survivors and their families, friends and fellow law enforcement officers, as well as the civilians who were injured by these despicable acts.
“Illinois law enforcement officers vow to honor the memory of our fallen brothers in Dallas. Their ultimate sacrifice reminds us why we put on the badge every day -- to make sure that cowardly criminals and evildoers are removed from our streets and the vast majority of good, honest citizens can enjoy living in our free society.”
Southwood also used his statement to make a political attack on President Barack Obama.
“We also express our disappointment with the current President, who vowed to unite the country and now eight years later we are more divided than before,” he claimed. “More and more people think it is OK to demonize and urge violence against police officers, and this is a situation the President has done little to correct.
“I call upon all our political leadership, state and national, to tell the nation specifically what they intend to do to stop the senseless slayings of those who protect our way of life in every American community,” Southwood concluded.
Meanwhile, former one-term Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh says he stands behind a controversial Twitter post he made following the shooting deaths of police officers in Dallas. But he’s also apologizing.
Walsh posted the tweet shortly before 11 Thursday night; it read:
“This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out Black Lives Matters punks. Real America is coming after you.”
The tweet was widely criticized, and Walsh says his twitter account was briefly suspended and his comment removed by Twitter.
Walsh says he has not been contacted by law enforcement.
"I knew that people would misinterpret that," he said, "and I apologize to anyone who thought that I was advocating violence against Obama. That’s not what I was doing. I was making a bigger, broader point. And I stand by that point."
Walsh says he feels Obama is too critical of police.
- WNIJ's Jessie Schlacks and Michael Puente contributed to this report.