Local law enforcement talk safety in light of recent attacks

HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — With the recent attacks on law enforcement across the country, the tension between the public and law enforcement have sparked conversations and concerns for local agencies.

“This brings us back to reality that sometime officers are a target, a lot of times,” Henderson County Sheriff Brian Duke said. “As far as actually changing anything, at this point we really haven’t. These kind of things have sparked the conversation, maybe to look and see if we need to change some things.”

The sheriff said they aren’t changing any tactics or procedures right now but that local agencies are keeping a closer eye on each other and making sure everyone stays alert.

“I think the biggest thing we have to do is just make sure that our officers are very aware and extra vigilant, making sure that they take their safety into account, and just take their time in assessing every situation correctly,” Lexington Police Department Capt. Jeff Middleton said.

Middleton said he believes West Tennesseans — both law enforcement and civilians — need to be the example for other communities struggling with these issues.

“Are there potential problems with the system? Sure there are. Can we make it better? I’m sure we can,” Capt. Middleton said. “But we’re not going to do that if we don’t come together, and I feel like western Tennessee and our communities, we understand that.”