Haunting pic shows cop’s children praying for their father following a spate of US officer shootings
The image, which was posted on Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Facebook page, has been shared over 7,000 times
A HEARTBREAKING picture shows two little children kneeling in front of their cop dad’s patrol car – praying that he isn’t harmed in the line of duty.
Posted by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on their Facebook page, the viral image has been shared over 7,000 times.
The family featured in the picture wish to remain anonymous amid heightened tension between the US police and the general public.
Shared on Sunday, the same day three cops were shot and killed by a gunman in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the caption reads: “Praying their father and all police officers return home safely.”
The picture shows a boy and a girl, wearing police clothing, on their knees praying beside their father’s IMPD patrol vehicle.
Both the young kids have their faces concealed by hats in the snap.
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The mother of the children, and wife of the police officer, reportedly wanted to hide the family’s identity when she submitted it to the Facebook page.
Speaking to Today.com, IMPD spokesperson Patrolman Jim Gillespie said the image was “a message of hope and a reminder of the attitude that the majority of citizens have for us, which is a supportive one.”
Dozens of social users have responded positively with one saying: “Too many nights I did this for my dad. I miss him so much. I will continue to pray for everyone else's mom and dad to come home safely every shift.”
The photo was posted less than a week after the police shooting in Dallas, Texas, where five cops were gunned down by sniper Micah Johnson.
The recent cop killings were promoted by the shooting of two black men – Alton Sterling and Philando Castile – who were filmed being killed by authorities in Louisiana and Minnesota respectively.
IMPD Police Chief Troy Riggs released a statement in response to the Baton Rouge cop shooting.
He said: “In nearly 30 years of law enforcement, I have never witnessed the types of brazen attacks we are seeing against officers.”
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