Careers & Education

TX Firefighters Wear 'Back the Blue' Shirts On-duty

Aug. 10, 2016

Grand Prairie crews say it's a show of support for officers across the country.

Source Forth Worth Star-Telegram

Shirts worn by Grand Prairie firefighters and staff support officers nationwide.

In the latest show of support for police, hundreds of firefighters and staff Tuesday started wearing Back the Blue T-shirts on duty.

“It’s not only for our local Police Department but officers across the country,” Assistant Fire Chief Bill Murphy said Tuesday.

North Texas law enforcement agencies have been flooded with cards, emails and food from residents showing their support for officers, starting in the hours after Dallas police were ambushed July 7, leaving five officers dead.

Murphy said the Fire Department and the Grand Prairie Firefighters Association came up with the idea of wearing and selling T-shirts.

“You have seen the negative publicity the media continues to air related to police departments across the nation. At the same time, our police brothers and sisters have been under attack, and several have lost their life,” Fire Chief Robert Fite said in a statement released Tuesday. “I want us to show our support.”

Fire officials had about 1,000 Back the Blue T-shirts made for the department and for sale. The Grand Prairie Firefighters Association, the Grand Prairie Fire Department and the departments’ Hearts and Hoses organization covered the costs. About 235 T-shirts will be worn by firefighters and staff.

“GPPD is extremely grateful, honored and humbled by the support of our Brothers and Sisters in Red,” said Police Chief Steve Dye, who heads the 259-officer department. “It is truly a blessing to work for a city and a community where we are always here to support one another.”

The $18 shirts will be sold at the Police Department, 1525 Arkansas Lane.

Proceeds will go to the Grand Prairie Police Association’s Benevolent Fund.

Other local fire departments also have shown their support in recent weeks. The North Richland Hills Firefighters Association began selling T-shirts to raise money to help families of the victims in the Dallas ambush.

The T-shirt design includes the North Richland Hills Fire Department’s name and “Back the Blue” printed underneath a thin-blue-line American flag.

Domingo Ramirez Jr.: 817-390-7763, @mingoramirezjr

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