Region – It has been a chilling and horrifying few weeks as the nation has watched police departments in Dallas and Baton Rouge come under attack and then face the devastating loss of multiple officers on their forces. There has been one silver lining amidst the sadness – citizens across the country, including here in our region, have come out en masse to show they support their local police departments. Gifts of cards, foods, visits and other gestures of support, officers say, mean the world to them. And in turn, they promise to continue to honor their vow to protect us, even if it means they must continue to put themselves in harm’s way to do so.