President Barack Obama on Monday called the widow of a slain Texas deputy to offer her his condolences.
While traveling to Alaska, Obama called Kathleen Gorforth, wife of fallen Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth, and told her that he and his family would keep her and her family in their prayers.
"I also promised that I would continue to highlight the uncommon bravery that police officers show in our communities every single day," Obama said in a statement. "They put their lives on the line for our safety."
Goforth was killed in an ambush at a gas station late Friday night. Shannon J. Miles was been charged in the murder and Sheriff Ron Hickman described the slaying as an execution and called it a "senseless and cowardly act."
Obama condemned the killing and pledged to "stand up" for the rights of officers and to help ensure their safety while on duty.
"Targeting police officers is completely unacceptable – an affront to civilized society," he said. "As I said in my State of the Union Address, we’ve got to be able to put ourselves in the shoes of the wife who won't rest until the police officer she married walks through the door at the end of his shift. That comfort has been taken from Mrs. Goforth."
