West Carrollton PD shows Dallas officer support

The mother of veteran Dallas police Officer Stephen Vineyard received a special visit from the West Carrollton police chief, his wife and some of his officers to show support for her and her son following last month’s deadly ambush on police officers in Dallas.

Chanda Winston was elated by the visit from West Carrollton Police Chief Doug Woodard and the others on Thursday evening.

“They said they wanted to honor my son,” she said.

Officer Vineyard, a Meadowdale High grad, had just reported for his overnight shift as a patrol officer and gang unit specialist the night of July 7 as word of the ambush spread on what is now regarded as the deadliest day for U.S. police officers since 9/11.

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Vineyard lost his partner and his supervising sergeant in the melee that ended with police killing the shooter.

Winston agreed the gesture is cool, “because they don’t know him at all. But I know it’s because of the brotherhood, that that’s the reason why they are doing it.”

She said her son also thinks the gesture is cool and acknowledges the bond he and the West Carrollton force share as members of the law enforcement community.

Officer Vineyard, in responding to a text message, said he has spoken with Woodard and adds, “this is bigger than myself…. I appreciate all the support from the West Carrollton Police Department and my home state of Ohio.”

Chief Woodard and the others dropped off a shirt, some challenge coins, department patches and other gifts to let Vineyard know “he’s on our mind and so are all the officers in Dallas.”

What happened to the officers in Dallas “affects us greatly,” Woodard said. “We are a brotherhood and sisterhood and anything that happens anywhere, really, affects all of us to some degree.”

He said it’s important that the police department show its support for Winston, because many times family members are the ones that don’t receive as much support as they should.

“We want to stand together, show support, show camaraderie not only for him but for his family, for his mother who lives in our city,” Woodard said.

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