CAMERON, Wis. — Following the fatal shooting of two police officers in Barron County, many community members in the village of Cameron spent Easter Sunday reflecting.
Throughout the day Sunday, dozens of community members stopped by the Village of Cameron Police Department, leaving flowers and flags on the fallen officer's vehicle.
Jane Snowden is the pastor of the Faith Lutheran Church in Cameron and she said during Sunday’s service, the fatal shooting was on everyone’s minds.
“I just stood there, and people looked at each other and tears and concerns and how are we going to get through this,” said Snowden.
She first heard about the shooting while eating Easter dinner with her family and on her drive home, she asked herself how she was going to speak to her congregation after something so tragic happened.
“I only could ask God how I was going to lead in the joy of Easter celebration and yet with heavy hearts,” said Snowden. “He gave me some really helpful hints, including, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.‘”
Snowden said the door to her church will always be open.
She’s not the only person in the community offering her support.
Bob Anderson is a member of the Law Enforcement Foundation in Barron County and he said his organization is here to help the family and friends of the fallen officers.
“If there is anything that we can do, whether it is meals or driving them to and from something so they can focus on the unfortunate circumstance,” said Anderson. “The way that they are going to grieve with that, we will help any way we can.”
Both Anderson and Snowden ask others to hold the Barron County community close in their hearts in the coming months as they recover from this heartbreaking loss.