Emily Featherston
Around 40 police officers, firefighters, community members and city officials gathered on the front lawn of City Hall Friday to observe a moment of silence and spend time in prayer after Thursday's deadly shooting in Dallas, Texas.
The time of reflection was called by the city after the Dallas mayor and police chief called for a moment in that city and beyond, leading Vestavia Hills officials to do the same.
"We're all brothers and sisters in this job," Captain Kevin York of the Vestavia Hills Police Department said, after thanking those who attended.
Law enforcement officials in Dallas reported that five officers were killed and seven injured Thursday night by snipers. The event, which happened as officers were patrolling a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in the city.
York said it is unheard of to lose that many officers at one time, but that it reminded him and others of when Birmingham lost three officers in 2004, and that they share the grief of those in Dallas.
Executive Pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church Bruce Stallings led those assembled in a time of prayer for the hurting families and leaders in Dallas, as well as those in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Falcon Heights, Minnesota, where two officer-involved shootings occurred this week.
Stallings encouraged the audience to pray for healing for those cities, for the leadership the city of Vestavia Hills and for the nation.
"Challenging situations like this require wisdom that is beyond us," Stallings said before leading the group in prayer.
City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem Steve Ammons said he and other city leaders organized the event to give residents a chance to come together during a difficult time.
The City of Vestavia Hills also announced Friday that it is planning to light up the Sibyl Temple on Highway 31 in blue for the next seven days to honor the fallen officers.
