Chief John Hays

Law enforcement officers in Butler County expressed sorrow and outrage in the wake of the sniper ambush Thursday night in Dallas that killed five police officers and wounded seven others.

Adams Township Police Chief Shawn Anglum said his officers are talking about the shootings.

“We had a moment of reflection (this morning) on the incidents that took place, for sure,” Anglum said.

He said the officers also went over the department’s safety policies and discussed being aware of safety at all times on patrol.

Regarding the shootings, Anglum said his first reaction was that the slain officers were people first.

“We’re people too. We’re out there doing a job,” Anglum said. “This affects a lot larger scale of people than the police department. There are mothers, fathers and children too.”

Butler Township Police Chief John Hays called the violence “senseless” and unpredictable.

“Those police were down there trying to protect the protestors, and you saw what happened,” he said.

Hays said the shootings — the deadliest single incident for police since the attacks of 9-11 — were a topic of discussion among the officers Friday.

“I think it makes us more aware of our surroundings and how to handle things like traffic stops,” Hays said.

Sgt. Chuck Mascellino of the Cranberry Township Police Department said safety is in the back of the minds of all of his colleagues every day.

“(Dallas) is a huge tragedy, and something we never like to see,” he said.

He said officers in his department are talking about those events.

“Unfortunately when these things happen, it tends to put everyone on edge,” Mascellino said.

He said Cranberry officers will wear black mourning ribbons over their badges until Friday in a show of respect and grief for the slain officers in Dallas.

Joe McCombs, Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police chief, said his officers also will wear black mourning ribbons for a week or two.

He said officers started talking about the Dallas police shootings via group text messaging after the media coverage began.

McCombs said, “Obviously every (police officer) across the country probably has a heightened alert today for any spin-offs or other reactions.”

Zelienople Police Chief Jim Miller, who has been police chief for about 19 years, said he has not seen any violent actions toward police in the borough and neighboring areas.

“We’re very fortunate for that to not happen yet,” he said. “The police are here to help everybody.”