With news of officer involved shootings all over both traditional and social media lately, tensions are high across the country.

Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn says though the recent incidents have happened hundreds of miles away, the effects can still hit home.

“I think here in Perry, you know, we’ve seen a lot of support from the community and I think we have a pretty good relationship with the community we serve. But I think those things will carry over and can carry over from one community to another.  So I think it’s definitely something that we need to try to address and try to improve on, anytime we have communications with people.”

Chief Vaughn says thanks to technology, these days we’re seeing a lot more footage of various incidents but that doesn’t mean that’s the full story.

“We’re getting that one angle.  Even with our body cameras, I get concerned with that, that a lot of people think that’s the saving grace for law enforcement but it’s showing you one angle.  It’s not showing you maybe what the officer sees out of the corner of his eye or movement that’s happening off camera, or a smell. It’s just not going to capture everything unfortunately.”

Vaughn will share more of his thoughts on the current climate for law enforcement officers on a future Let’s Talk Dallas County program.