Clarkstown Officers Pay Tribute To Comrades Slain In Dallas

CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. -- The shock wave felt across the nation at the slaying of five police officers in Dallas has reached the Hudson Valley.

In a tribute to their fallen brothers in blue, members of the Clarkstown police department saluted Friday as flags were lowered to half-staff at their headquarters on Maple Avenue.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them all," said a post on the police department's Facebook page.

In what multiple media reports are calling the deadliest day for law enforcement since 9/11, a lone sniper shot 12 officers, killing five of them, at a protest against police brutality.

The ambush, which authorities are saying was well-planned, spurred Attorney General Loretta Lynch to call for calm and President Barack Obama to dub the shootings as “vicious” and “despicable,” according to multiple media reports.

Police in New York City have increased security in the wake of the Dallas tragedy, according to abc7.ny.com.

The gunman, who died in the aftermath, was identified as Micah Xavier Johnson, a 25-year-old former U.S. Army reservist who did a tour in Afghanistan, according to the New York Daily News.

Police raided his home and found an arsenal of guns, ammo and bomb-making materials, the Daily News report said.

ABC News reported Johnson had told hostage negotiators he was distraught over the fatal shootings of two black men by police and wanted to kill whites, especially police officers, multiple media reports said.

To read the full Daily News report, click here.

To read the ABC News stories, click here and here.

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