Kenyon is Having a Police Appreciation Event Friday

Before he left for Washington, D.C., to attend a conference at the White House, Kenyon Police Chief Lee Sjolander told KDHL during the Kenyon-Wanamingo area news how proud he was to serve Kenyon.

The Kenyon VFW is inviting everyone to stop by this Friday, July 22, and show how proud they are of Sjolander and the Kenyon Police Department. The event is being billed as an open house and begins at 4PM.

A lot has happened since my conversation with Sjolander.

I was in Texas when the five Dallas policemen were gunned down in response to a shooting in Minnesota of a black man during a traffic stop. Shootings of police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana have also happened since that conversation.

I told Sjolander during our conversation I liked the sign in the police station window that "Every Life Matters."

The Chief said "thanks" and added he believes the statement so much he has a tattoo stating the same and the statement is also embroidered on his uniform.

Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen told those in attendance at the Rice County Fair Queen Pageant on Tuesday night how appreciative he was of the citizens of Faribault. Bohlen said he has been the city's police chief for four years and in the wake of the shootings added how blessed he feels to serve in a community like Faribault.

He shared people had stopped by the police station in Faribault with gifts and officers had received hugs of support in the community.

I stopped by Basilleo's Pizza recently and saw a box atop a candy machine with a slot on top so people could drop in cards or notes showing their support.

The conference Sjolander attended at the White House concerned 21st Century Policing. The Kenyon Police Chief has agreed to discuss what he learned on his trip with us in the near future. I'm hopeful he can stop by the KDHL studio for AM Minnesota, or I'll head to Kenyon for the show.

When I was in Texas, I was waiting for the gates to open to go into a Twins game and didn't want to stand in the hot sun so joined a man from southern Texas in the shade across the street from the gate. He retired to Texas after a career in law enforcement in Los Angeles.

His precinct was in the same area of L.A. where the Rodney King Riots or L.A. Riots took place in 1992, so he has lived in an area of great tension between police and a group of citizens existed. He was a white man and said he understood why some people of all races were angry about the police beating of Rodney King. "But violence never solves anything," he said.

During those riots after the acquittal of four officers charged in April 1992, 9,500 people were arrested for rioting, looting and arson. There was $1 billion in property damage; 2,000 people were injured and more than 50 people killed.

On the third day of the riots, King asked the now famous question, "Can't we all just get along?"

Nearly a quarter century later we need to ask the same question.