Marietta Police Chief Pens Poignant Letter In Wake Of Las Vegas Massacre

MARIETTA, GA -- In the wake of the Las Vegas massacre in which a gunman mowed down nearly 60 people and injured more than 500 more, Marietta's top cop is speaking on violence. Police Chief Dan Flynn's message is that, "We are stronger together."

Flynn used the opportunity to invite the public to a Civilian Response to Active Shooter (CRASE) seminar on Monday, Oct. 9 t 6:30 p.m. at the Marietta Performing Arts Center.

Flynn's message, released late Wednesday, has been posted below in its entirety. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

In the aftermath of the Las Vegas massacre as we step back and look at the big picture of violence across America in 2017; the trend is very concerning. Looking at patterns of violence occurring this year alone, we see increased attacks against the police and government, large scale violence in a growing number of indoor and outdoor venues, and surging murder rates.

Read more: Wilmington woman who survived Vegas massacre finds hero online

No community in America is untouched by the alarming trends and the problem is not isolated to any particular demographic or geographic area. In fact, many of the Las Vegas victims were not from Las Vegas, but rather from all over the Country.

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The point of this stark observation is not to frighten citizens or minimize our grief for victims. It is to grab the attention of citizens who are potential future victims of violence and motivate everyone to participate with law enforcement and other public safety professionals to sharply reduce that risk.

In light of the Las Vegas tragedy, the evidence is abundantly clear – law enforcement in America is still very strong in our response, but not strong enough to prevent spontaneous violence or curtail its impact without inclusive active planning and the willing cooperation of the law abiding public.It is both sad and alarming that violence against complete strangers is becoming more commonplace in 2017 America; but it is true. It is also true that it is not a viable solution to withdraw from public activities due to the threat or fear of becoming a victim.

Therefore, citizens should ask “What can I do to reduce my chances of becoming a victim and what should I do if I find myself cornered in a violent situation?” The best answer is: support law enforcement’s ability to protect us all, and make use of the wide range of programs and training they offer to help keep Americans safe. Help us help you and remember; we are stronger together.

The Civilian Response to Active Shooter (CRASE) seminar is free to the public. Please arrive at 5:45 PM if you would like to view several examples of first responder vehicles that would be dispatched if an event like Las Vegas happened locally. The police do not advise those under 13 to attend due to the frank nature of the discussion.

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