Gov. Rauner: Dallas Shooting is ‘Outrageous,' ‘Deeply Distressing'

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel released statements Friday in light of news that five Dallas police officer had been killed by snipers at the end of a peaceful protest Thursday night.

“The ambush attack on Dallas police officers is outrageous,” Gov. Rauner said. “The men and women who work every day to protect everyone, including those exercising their right to free speech, deserve our respect and support.”

Twelve officers in all were shot by gunmen in what police believe to be a coordinated ambush attack that began at 8:58 p.m., at the close of a rally that stood in solidarity with two men killed in officer-involved shootings, one in Louisiana, one in Minnesota. Two civilians were also injured in the shootings.

“The shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota that led to last night's protests, are deeply distressing,” Rauner continued. “All of these events speak to the lack of unity and trust in many of our communities and underscores the urgency in addressing that lack of trust," he said. "Diana and I pray that the victims, their families, and our entire country find strength, healing and peace to rebuild trust among our neighbors and communities."

Chicago police officers were ordered by the department Friday to work in pairs and "exercise extreme caution" when in the field.

Shortly after, Mayor Rahm Emanuel weighed in on the tragedy and chaos.

“All of America woke up this morning to the horror of police officers being ambushed in Dallas, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families," Mayor Emanuel said. "It is a tragedy that follows two other shocking shootings in Baton Rouge and in Minneapolis."

"As a country and as a city we can never accept acts of ‎violence anywhere, at any time, against anyone, for any reason," Emanuel continued. "We cannot be a country where our differences define us – be it profession, race, creed, or sexual orientation. We must recommit ourselves to our common values to confront corrosive violence. We must build a dialogue that builds trust between us all. That is the foundation of this nation, that is what binds us together, and that is what we all must strive towards every day."

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