Dallas is honoring the memory of five Dallas police officers who died in the line of duty nine years ago, on July 7, 2016.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said the attack on the officers “forever” changed the city. 

He named the fallen Dallas Police Officers – Sgt. Michael Smith, Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, Officer Michael Krol, Officer Patrick Zamarripa, and DART Officer Brent Thompson – and said they made “incredible sacrifices” in the line of duty.

“These names are etched into the heart of Dallas,” Johnson posted on X. “Their bravery, heroism, and dedication to serving and protecting this city continue to inspire us.”

Sniper Micah Johnson ambushed police working crowd control during a “Black Lives Matter” event in downtown Dallas in 2016. As The Dallas Express reported at the time, he killed five officers, wounded seven more, and wounded two civilians. 

Johnson – a veteran – hoped to kill “as many white officers as he could,” according to The New York Times. This was the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 9/11.

Then-Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said at the time the officers protected the city “courageously, and with honor,” according to CBS News. 

“There is not a day that goes by that we do not think of our fallen,” Garcia said. “Each day we put on our uniform and our badge, we honor and carry on their legacy by serving our city with respect, dignity, and fairness. We will never forget.”

The Fallen Officers

  • Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, 48, was a member of the department for 14 years, and his wife was also a member of the department, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. He previously served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office in California for 11 years.
  • Sgt. Michael Smith, 55, was a 27-year veteran of the department. He was also an Army veteran.
  • Officer Michael Krol, 40, was a member of the department for nine years. He previously served with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, near Detroit, Michigan, for four years. 
  • Officer Patrick Zamarripa, 32, was a member of the department for six years. He was also a Navy veteran.
  • DART Police Officer Brent Thompson, 43, served with the agency for nine years, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. His wife also served with the agency, and he was a veteran of the Marine Corps.

Nine years later, the Dallas Police Department posted that the officers’ “courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

“We honor the brave officers who gave their lives protecting our city,” the department posted. “We carry their legacy with us – every day, in every step.”