$10M Raised to Help Families of Five Officers Slain in Dallas

Wives say 'thank you' for donations.

The wives of the Dallas police officers killed in a July attack spoke publicly Tuesday about $10 million in donations for the families.

"As a police officer myself, seeing people at their worst, you lose sight of people at their best. And this is just amazing," said Emily Thompson, wife of slain DART Police Officer Brent Thompson.

Mayor Mike Rawlings said the money poured in from around the globe in donations large and small.

"For the families of the fallen officers, no amount of money will heal the wounds that night. But this is the world’s small Christmas gift to you, in memory of those that you loved," Rawlings said.

People handling the money said it will be placed in trusts for relatives of the five murdered and nine injured officers.

"We’ve established something that’s going to last, hopefully a lifetime, for some of these children; their officers', their fathers' legacy for them," said Frederick Frazier, leader of the Assist The Officer Foundation.

The gunfire broke out after a July 7 demonstration against police shootings nationwide.

In addition to DART Officer Thompson, Dallas police Sgt. Michael Smith, Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, Officer Michael Krol and Officer Patrick Zamarripa were also killed before the gunman was killed by police.

"We still live with it each and every day," said Interim Dallas Chief David Pughes. "But we come to work and we do our job and I truly believe it’s only because of the amount support that we have seen from our city and our community."

With her children at her side, Smith's widow, Heidi, struggled to speak at the announcement of the fundraising total.

"For the community taking care of us, now that Mike can’t be here anymore, I just want to say 'thank you,'" she said.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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