Devotion to duty commands respect

This is text of a memo sent to police staff in Prospect Heights on Friday:

Today we stand with our brothers and sisters in Dallas, where five officers were killed last night with more injured. In solidarity, I'm asking everyone to wear their mourning bands on their badges until the funerals for the fallen have finished. Though we may be separated by geography and jurisdiction, the weight of this incident is carried by every police officer throughout our country.

We are fortunate in Prospect Heights in that we continue to enjoy the support and respect of our community in an age where so many other departments have lost theirs. This is a testament to you, the officers who come to work every day, professional, empathetic and sincere.

Please, also be those officers who can hold their calm when all about them are losing theirs. Rely on your training and smarts and never give into the hate.

Be the professional who is prepared and ready, but can resist being baited and though the truth may be twisted into lies in court (or even worse by the media in the court of public opinion) never lose your composure.

Just rely on your training, your gut and instincts so that we may all get home safe.

Prayers for the fallen and those they left behind.

Al Steffen, Chief of Police

Prospect Heights