Dallas officer using social media to change perception of police

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Dallas deputy using social media to change perception of police

A Dallas police officer is harnessing the power of social media to influence the public's perception of police officers.

DALLAS, TX (KTRK) -- A Dallas deputy constable is using social media to help improve the public perception of officers.

Deputy Constable Bryan Woodard told Eyewitness News he started shooting videos using Facebook Live showing his day-to-day life on the force after the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri.

"I refuse to see hate live while love dies," Woodard said.

Since then, he has made it his mission to show that there are kind, respectful officers in the U.S. The video he posted after the shooting in Dallas went viral on Facebook, garnering thousands of views and shares.

"We dress in regular clothes, too," Woodard said. "We bleed, we cry, we have to eat, we are not robots, but you have a lot of great officers out there that are not getting recognized."

Woodard says he wants to show positive experiences with officers on social media.

"I just want to show them that, hey, there is a different side," Woodard said.

Meanwhile, the memorial outside of the Dallas Police Headquarters continues to grow; cards and flowers cover two patrol cars, and officers are keeping watch around the clock to make sure candles remain lit.