Fall River Police Chief Discusses Police Shootings

Police departments around the country are urging their officers to be vigilant in the wake of police shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge.

Fall River Police Chief Daniel Racine told WBSM's Barry Richard that he sent out an e-mail urging officers to remain on guard and continue to do their jobs in a professional manner.

"While they're doing everything that they do, the myriad of responsibilities that police officers have, in the back of their mind they have to remember that, unfortunately, there are a small minority that want to do the wrong thing and want to hurt them and they really have to keep their guard up and back each other up," said Racine "but we have to go out there and do our job."

As an added safety measure many police departments, especially those in larger cities, have begun two officer patrols.

Racine said his department doesn't have the manpower to do that.

However, steps have been implemented to try and ensure officer safety.

"Our own man cars, or one officer cars, are ensuring that they're going on the calls together, so that we can still get the patrol coverage, still answer the thousands of calls that we receive to respond to, and yet keep each other safe," said Racine.

Racine also says that while departments like his routinely meet with religious and community leaders abd work very hard to maintain positive relationships, all it takes is one angry person to wreak havoc.

"I think law enforcement, generally, in the Northeast, do a superb job at that, community policing and being partners with the community, standing shoulder to shoulder with the community," said Racine "but there are wildcards there are folks out there that are hellbent on doing something treacherous such as what we saw in Dallas and then again in Baton Rouge."