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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Community members and officers stood shoulder to shoulder holding hands and praying Sunday.

“God, we lift up our law enforcement right now.”

“We do not support — we do not support any retaliation against law enforcement,” Devante Hill, a community organizer, said.

Leaders of the Black Lives Matter and “One Memphis” movement spoke out against the deadly law enforcement shooting in Louisiana.

“Now we got police officers who were involved who didn’t ask to be involved,” Hill told WREG.

“It’s tough. You know? But that’s a part of our job when we put on this badge. It’s tough,” Capt. Jimmy Johnson, with Tennessee Highway Patrol, said. “The families and the law enforcement all over the nation are having a tough time with what is going on, but we still have a job to do every day.”

State troopers and Memphis officers showed up in force at Martin Luther King Jr. Park after getting word about a possible protest.

“Watching our backs so to speak, making sure that we’re taking care of each other,” Capt. Johnson said.

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THP and MPD doubled up on patrols.

Memphis is keeping its police stations on tight security.

With flags lowered half-staff, WREG spotted mobile command centers and dozens of tactical officers at one precinct.

Interim Police Director Mike Rallings stayed tight-lipped on exactly what tools they had in place.

“We’re taking measures to protect our officers. Next question,” Rallings said quickly.

Although things have been considered peaceful in Memphis, community leaders stressed to upset citizens that lashing out at cops is not the way to influence change.

“Let the cooler heads come up with a strategy, and we will give you guys marching orders,” Detric Golden, with A-Team Memphis, said.

MPD said there would be an increased police presence in the city as officers continue working eight-hour shifts with no days off.

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