Balloon release for lives lost to senseless violence held in Douglass Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-After the ambush on police in Dallas, and now in Baton Rouge, many law enforcement officers across the country feel like they have a target on their back. But Sergeant Rahsaan Berry with the Lexington Police Department says he’s the odd man out.

“I’m different. I believe my focus is the one up above. I know he’s still in control in everything that we do and I think with our department and the things we have in place I think we’re going to be okay.”

Disappointed by the rise in violence across the country he led a group in Douglass Park in a moment of reflection and a balloon release for the lives lost. The group prays in a park where a man died after being shot during the annual Dirt Bowl basketball tournament a year ago.

Sergeant Berry says, “It’s sad that anybody who gets shot, people losing their lives…We just want to work together with our community and make things better for where they need to be.”

Many say they’re furious after hearing about another senseless tragedy.

Diane Marshall, who organized the Douglass Park Centennial Celebration going on in the park says, “I was upset. I was just upset. I don’t know why and I don’t how. But we’ve been praying for the families.”

Kentucky Senator Reginald Thomas says, “It’s really getting out of hand here. It’s sickening, it’s tragic, it’s disturbing.”

Senator Thomas and Sergeant Berry agree that no community is immune to similar outbreaks of violence the likes of those seen in Baton Rouge.

Senator Thomas says, “It can happen anywhere and it will happen again. If we as a country don’t get a handle on it.”

Sergeant Berry says, “I just think that we all need to be on one accord, on one page. That we need to come together, educate both sides officers and citizens. And that we’ll be on one accord. Because we just all want to live life and live life to it’s fullest.”