Cheering and clapping for the men and women in blue is not something officers are used to hearing when starting or ending their shift.
This morning – when people could have stayed longer in bed or commute to work – dozens of people chose to line the entrance way into the Bellevue Police Department station to show officers some love.
“Officers are not always used to people doing nice things for them and so everyone was a little taken a back, [saying] 'Well, this is really neat. People are going to get up this early in the morning and come see us,’” says Laurie Synowieki, the spokesperson for the department.
The rally, organized by Councilwoman Carol Blood, comes in the aftermath of when a sniper shot and killed five Dallas officers last Thursday.
The killings made it the deadliest day for law enforcement since 9/11.
Bellevue police, much like the rest of the local enforcement agencies, sent their support to the Dallas Police Department.
As they did so, the community in Bellevue showed its officers that same outpour of love and support Tuesday morning beginning at 6 a.m. during a shift change.
Signs, cheers, claps and goodie-bags for officers and canines either greeted officers or bid them farewell near the parking entrance.
Ivie Driver, 11, joined her family for the special rally held outside the police station.
“I'm feeling very happy that all of the community wanted to come together and it's very nice to watch the whole community come together and show support for the police,” Driver says.
Blood says the shootings in Orlando and Dallas prompted her to organize an event to highlight the police department.
“When we have an opportunity to really step up to the plate and show some love and show some support, we need to take advantage of this,” she says.
For one man, his support for blue went a step further after an officer helped him.
“Our story here, started with that police officer,” says Louis Pell, a long-time resident. “So I want to be out here to say ‘Thank You” to all of them from that moment on.”
