Worcester Co. Sheriff’s Office: “All law enforcement are family.”

A sea of police badges with the mourning band covered pages on social media Friday, after five officers were killed in a deadly shooting during an otherwise peaceful protest in Dallas Thursday night.

Lieutenant Ed Schreier of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office says it’s a sign of the brotherhood and sisterhood shared between law enforcement.

“We are all family, no matter whether it’s here in Maryland, Puerto Rico, California or even across in England,” Lieutenant Schreier says. “All law enforcement are family.”

According to reports, five police officers were fatally shot and several other officers and civilians were wounded by a sniper who allegedly fired at police. The officers were protecting demonstrators protesting police brutality in downtown Dallas.

At a press conference Friday morning, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings called the ambush “the worst attack on law enforcement in our city’s history. The worst attack on law enforcement in our country since 9/11.”

The Dallas Police Department had tweeted out photos of officers and demonstrators in the hours before and during the event.

Lieutenant Schreier tells 47ABC the county sheriff’s office has assisted in protests in the past.

“It’s about the safety of the people that are there and the protestors,” he recalls. “There’s no differentiation whether you’re protesting against something or for something. It’s your safety and the safety of the community. That’s what goes through our head. That is what is paramount.”

The focus now, he says, needs to remain on unity between law enforcement and civilians. It starts with building trust.

“Part of our mission is to combat crime, but the other part of our mission is to combat the fear of crime and if can reduce the fear people have, then we’re doing our job,” he tells 47ABC.

Lieutenant Schreier also stresses building trust and working towards unity should be a goal everyday, not just when tragedy strikes acutely.

“If we can serve the people of this county and build relationships with them, then we will feel the effects of that when something critical happens,” he says. “The community will rally together, not one section against the other but together.”

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has ordered the state flag to fly at half-staff until sunset next Tuesday, July 12 in honor of the slain officers.