80/35ers show compassion to officers patrolling the festival
Updated: 9:30 PM CDT Jul 8, 2016
Mark Tauscheck
The ninth annual 80/35 music festival, one of Iowa's largest, is still festive in downtown Des Moines, where police are keeping the peace and reacting to the slayings of five officers in Dallas.
One of Iowa's largest music festivals is underway in downtown Des Moines.The ninth annual 80/35 music festival, one of Iowa's largest, is still festive in downtown Des Moines, where police are keeping the peace and reacting to the slayings of five officers in Dallas.Des Moines police Sgt. Debra Richardson, who is five months from retirement, said the atmosphere was different Friday night since she's been with the Des Moines Police Department for so long."You're a little more on guard than normal, always worried about copycats, so more watchful, more wary today than normal," Richardson said.As she patrolled 80/35 downtown, she lost count of the number of people who felt compelled to approach her."I just thanked them for what they do for us and how they protect us every day," said Becky Piatcheck, of Clive."I think it's important that they knew what they're doing is important, that it's not every police officer in the world doing bad things," said Ben Passage, of Des Moines."He was the first officer I've come across today, and I told my friend, 'I got to do this,' so I went over there," said Brian Davis of West Des Moines. "It gets me choked up a little bit, just for their loss.""It means a lot to us," Richardson said. "It means we have support from the community. People are backing us and makes us feel good. Honestly, it does."
DES MOINES, Iowa —
One of Iowa's largest music festivals is underway in downtown Des Moines.
[VIDEO: 80/35ers show compassion to officers patrolling the festival]
Des Moines police Sgt. Debra Richardson, who is five months from retirement, said the atmosphere was different Friday night since she's been with the Des Moines Police Department for so long.
"You're a little more on guard than normal, always worried about copycats, so more watchful, more wary today than normal," Richardson said.
As she patrolled 80/35 downtown, she lost count of the number of people who felt compelled to approach her.
"I just thanked them for what they do for us and how they protect us every day," said Becky Piatcheck, of Clive.
"I think it's important that they knew what they're doing is important, that it's not every police officer in the world doing bad things," said Ben Passage, of Des Moines.
"He was the first officer I've come across today, and I told my friend, 'I got to do this,' so I went over there," said Brian Davis of West Des Moines. "It gets me choked up a little bit, just for their loss."
"It means a lot to us," Richardson said. "It means we have support from the community. People are backing us and makes us feel good. Honestly, it does."