In Baton Rouge, attack on police was ‘diabolical’

The news out of Baton Rouge was horrifying even without context.

Three law enforcement officers — Montrell Jackson, 32, a 10-year veteran of the Baton Rouge Police Department; Matthew Gerald, 41, on the force for less than a year; and Brad Garafola, 45, an East Baton Rouge deputy sheriff for 24 years — were ambushed and murdered by a lone gunman.

The context makes it even worse. It was the second time in 10 days that a heavily armed man set out to avenge the killing of young black men at the hands of police.

He sought out officers in a city where one of the police killings had occurred, and he took their lives in retribution.

“This was a diabolical attack on the very fabric of our society,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Less than a week earlier, President Barack Obama had been in Dallas to speak at a memorial service for five officers killed in similar fashion July 7.

On Sunday, he spoke to reporters at the White House in the aftermath of the Baton Rouge ambush.

“We as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies attacks on law enforcement,” Obama said.

Nothing. Yet now it has happened twice in less than two weeks.

The wrong, of course, is more than the eight officers being murdered — and another in Baton Rouge was in critical condition Monday.

The wrong is also that the gunmen in Dallas and Baton Rouge decided that any and all police officers should be killed for the perceived wrongs of a very few — and even those wrongs not yet proven outside of internet video.

It is understandable that many people, blacks especially, are frustrated and angry that young black men have been killed by police. That is something we all should protest.

Yet no one is justified in taking the law into his or her own hands and handing out punishment.

Police must take extra precautions for their own safety, even as they protect ours. Fort Worth officers will double up on all calls — a prudent measure, but one that can’t help but affect efficiency.

Obama urged calm: “Everyone right now, focus on words and actions that can unite this country rather than divide it further.”

Just last week, he returned to Washington from Dallas and met with police officers, community activists and elected leaders seeking ways to restore racial harmony. He emerged saying harmony is “not even close.”

Harmony doesn’t have to mean we all agree. But it must mean we treat each other with respect.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 5:44 PM with the headline "In Baton Rouge, attack on police was ‘diabolical’."