Seattle officers to ride in pairs after Dallas shootings

Seattle police will ride in pairs. (2014 photo from the City of Seattle)

Seattle police will ride in pairs. (2014 photo from the City of Seattle)

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Seattle patrol officers will be riding in pairs as a safety measure following the sniper attack that killed five officers in Dallas.

KOMO-TV reported that Chief Kathleen O’Toole is taking that step “to the extent possible” in response to a request from the police union. The union made a similar request after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.

Assistant Chief Robert Merner says officers are obviously concerned. The plan is to have patrol officers handle only 911 calls regarding major crimes.

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