Hightened sense of awareness after police shootings

Law enforcement vigilant not only about civilian lives, but own

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After Sunday's police shootings in Baton Rouge, News4Jax Crime and Safety Analyst Gil Smith said more officers have a heightened sense of awareness to protect both the lives of citizens and their own.

The Baton Rouge police chief said three members of the police force are dead, and one is fighting for his life after an ambush.

News4Jax Crime and Safety Analyst Gil Smith said law enforcement agencies are still dealing with the grief of five Dallas officers taken less than two weeks ago in a shooting during a protest. Now that it's happened again, Smith said it reflects negatively on those demonstrating peacefully.

“You just never know who was involved in these types of attacks because right now in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you have so many different groups and protest groups and activists that are not committing violence that are coming in from around the country," Smith said.

There are still many unanswered questions to the motive of the shooter in Louisiana, but Smith says it’s an important reminder for people to speak up if they know anything.

“In a situation like this that happened in Baton Rouge, I can tell you in the next couple of days, someone will say 'yeah I did notice something suspicious, but I just didn’t report,'" Smith said. "Because they were thinking, 'oh I don’t think this person I’ll go that far."