Dawson County Holds Prayer Service for Public Safety Personnel

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DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County residents showed their support for law enforcement officers and other first responders during a prayer service held in front of the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Sunday.

The service followed the shooting deaths of five police officers and the wounding of 7 others in Dallas last week and the shooting of two civilians in Baton Rouge and St. Paul, Minnesota.

“There was maybe 300-400 people there and they were very sympathetic not just to our officers. but what seems to be going on in throughout the country,” said Sheriff Billy Carlisle.”I believe they recognize that there is a spiritual battle going on this country. It’s not just an us vs. them thing.”

Carlisle said his deputies are, “watching their backs more now. I don’t want to say they’re antsy but they are kind of antsy.They have to stay mentally alert all the time now when they go on call or are on patrol.”

Carlisle added that he has not given any special instructions to his officers since the Black Lives Matter protests started.

“We really didn’t need to. We’re constantly talking to them about the way to deal with people properly and professionally,” he said.

Carlisle said the Black Lives Matter group is “going about it in the wrong way. We need to have a serious discussion on both sides I don’t think Black Lives Matter intended for it to turn out the way it has.”

Deputy Eric Johnson who led the prayer service, said, “We’re doing this for the community to show support for the sheriff’s office and to unite the community to come together. We’re lucky in Dawson County that we don’t face some of the same things other larger agencies face, and we’re thankful for that. But it’s got to start somewhere, and if there has ever been a time that we need to look to God for his guidance, it’s now.”

 

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