Dallas Shootings: Police, Families Discuss Challenges

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police leaders want lawmakers to make a deliberate shooting of a police officer a hate crime.

Throughout the city of Charlotte Friday, police and their families are looking at the job differently after the Dallas shootings.

“Remember what our law enforcement officers do every day, and please know there is a mother of a slain officer that if there is a bad officer out there, I want them gone,” said Trisha Norket.

Norket never expected her son, CMPD Officer John Burnette and his partner, Andy Nobles, to die on duty in 1993.
Their killer, Alden Harden, is on death row.

“There are enemies out there,” said Norket. “We have enemies on the street. We have people that do not like law enforcement officers.”

“I know that we’re there to do good,” said Randy Hagler. “We’re there to protect people.

President of North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police Randy Hagler points out Charlotte protesters worked with police to get through Uptown Thursday night, and officers only warned protesters not to block traffic.

“As long as the folks that we come into contact with will listen and do what they’re, what they’re being requested to do, there’s not ever going to be an issue,” said Hagler.

Officers he spoke with Friday say the Dallas shootings are a wake up call.

“It will make us stop and think about the way we work and how we handle calls and the way we conduct ourselves. It’ll make us more aware of our surroundings,” said Hagler. “You know, where could someone come from that wants to do harm while you’re on this call.”

Families who’ve lost say everyone wants to come home alive.

“You never know what’s gonna happen the day that they go to work,” said Norket. “”And I do know what it’s like. Yes. It is the most horrible thing in the world that can happen to you.”