Heightened Security As Hundreds Mourn Metro Detroit Native Police Officer Killed In Dallas Shooting

REDFORD (WWJ) - A large police presence secured an already law enforcement-heavy crowd in the funeral procession Tuesday for Dallas police officer and Redford, Michigan native Mike Krol.

Hundreds of officers from across Michigan and beyond gathered to pay their final respects to Krol, who was among five officers killed this month in Dallas, during a march to protest recent fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana.

A large U.S. flag hung from fire trucks in Macomb County's Redford Township as mourners arrived in the morning at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church.

The 40-year-old had moved Dallas nine years ago to become an officer after working for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

Armed cops were seen as the procession made the approximately four-mile trek to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield where Krol will be interred — but Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw urged the public not to be alarmed.

Shaw says it's common practice to have heightened security at the service of a fallen officer and that the police presence was already planned ahead of the latest shooting in Baton Rouge.

"It's just for the fact that we realize that that is a target; not only from, you know, some of the things that we're seeing happening today, but also from a terrorism standpoint," Shaw said. "There's a lot of people that would like to maybe conduct some violence or some different operations at a large event with a large police officers presence."

Shaw stressed that there were no specific threats made regarding the procession, the funeral or the interment ceremony.

Local resident Marge Gault was shaking officers' hands as they arrived for the funeral.

"I think it's just sad because they're here for this reason. They're not here for a celebration, unfortunately," she said. "That's what they should be here for — is a celebration of how they protect all of us, and they're not here for that."

Gault has a niece and nephew on the Livonia Police force, and says she thinks about what they do every day when they put on the uniform.

Deputy Chief Mike Jaafar of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department says it's unfortunate that it takes such a tragedy to demonstrate solidarity.

"It just shows the resiliency of this profession and the love that the officers have for each other," Jaafar told WWJ's Ron Dewey. "And police officers are part of the community. They're fathers, they're mother, they're teachers...they're just like anyone else."

Cody Perry and her four children were across the street watching as the procession arrived. She wanted her kids to see what this was about and why the police need their respect.

"You know, I follow the Redford police on Facebook, and one of the things they recently posted was about when you see us, don't sit there and be like, 'Oh, that's the police.' Come up to us, talk to us, show your kids that we're friendly and we're here to protect them," Perry said.

Another funeral was held for Krol in Texas on Friday.