Recent Police Shootings Weighing Heavily On Law Enforcement In Southern California

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The police shootings in Baton Rouge and Dallas are weighing heavily on officers, including those in Southern California.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies at the South Los Angeles station say they always work in pairs, but in the wake of the recent violence, are watching each other's backs more closely.

Even for a simple traffic stop, deputies Jorge Perez and Mario Gomez say they're constantly on the lookout.

On the force for nearly a decade, both say the recent police shootings have put them on edge, knowing they could be targets.

"When we go somewhere, we start looking at rooftops and pay more attention to our surroundings more than anything," said Gomez.

Los Angeles County deputies now ride in pairs. If there is a lone deputy, she must now wait for backup before responding to a call.

Deputy Perez says his sister sometimes insists he sends her a text message to let her know he's OK.

"Peace of mind that I'm off to work and I'm safe," he said.

And Deputy Gomez says his biggest fear is not coming home to his family.

"It seems it's getting harder and harder saying bye to my wife and kids," he said.

Patrolling through a rough area in South LA, they say they're already trained to deal with the unexpected.

"Our guard is up all the time here no matter what," he said.

But, they say, it's the unexpected gratitude that they're receiving that makes them realize how important they are in the community.

"People come, shake our hands, and just thank us," he said. "It helps us keep going."