AUSTIN, Texas — A small but passionate group united in front of the Texas State Capitol on Sunday to honor officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The group held up signs that read, "We appreciate Austin Police," as they walked side-by-side through the streets of Downtown Austin before eventually settling in front of Austin City Hall.
Senior Police Officer Jorge Pastore was shot and killed in the line of duty on Nov. 11 during a SWAT incident. Another unnamed officer was also injured.
Soon after, two other police officers lost their lives in unrelated incidents.
Members of the group made speeches honoring the three officers and calling for solutions from the city government.
"We're all one voice for Austin, and we want change," said Sandy Ramirez Mcnaul, a community activist who organized Sunday's event.
Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock was at the gathering and said he welcomed the community support.
"It's greatly appreciated when people people show their love and support for our department," Bullock said.
He added that he and others in the association have been doing their part to get the department back on track following the recent tragic incidents.
"The last week and a half have reminded us that there's some realities to the job and sacrifices that can be expected of us and then the demands of the job," Bullock said.
Bullock also acknowledged the lack of resources officers are facing and the staffing shortages the department has yet to recover from.
"We are having troubles recruiting, retaining, getting the resources that we need, and so we're here to to fight for what we need," Bullock said.
However, the law enforcement community has stated that it will keep honoring those who have given the ultimate sacrifice while continuing to look out for officers in the line of duty.
"We want to continue to honor everyone that we've lost and fight for our department and our city so that we can make it a safe place for people to live and work and enjoy life here," Bullock said.