Fountain police more vigilant, cautious in wake of national shootings, outrage, unrest

A 21-year veteran, Fountain police Lt. Ron Reeves deals with a stigma every day on the job.

“I’ve always been treated differently because everybody knows I’m a law enforcement officer,” Reeves said. “People are quick to judge me because I wear the uniform but they don’t know me.”

Reeves lives a life outside the uniform.

“I’m just like everybody else,” Reeves said. “I have a family, I have kids, I have the struggles just like everybody else but because of the uniform I wear I’m constantly judged.”

The brutal killing of two officers on the streets of Brooklyn Saturday and the shooting death of a Florida officer Sunday, make Reeves and his colleagues more cautious and vigilant.

“We’re more aware of our surroundings,” Reeves said, “we park in areas that are very well lit, loved ones know where we’re going, how long it’s going to take us to get there and we’re constantly in communication with our family members.”

Sgt. Moses Cho has served the city of Fountain for 14 years. With his profession under scrutiny and in the spotlight, this officer argues he’s not more fearful of his job, rather angry.

“We lost two precious lives in Brooklyn and another one in Florida just this weekend,” Cho said. “What did that accomplish? That’s not bringing anyone closer together.”

Both officers say they and their fellow protectors in communities across the nation have a difficult road ahead in working together with the public to heel divisions and regain trust.

The Fountain Police Department is in the process of issuing body cameras to each of its 46 officers. The cameras cost in the neighborhood of $40,000.