Restaurants, Community Members Say 'Thank You' To LAPD Officers At Appreciation Lunch

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A handful of restaurants Monday threw an appreciation lunch for LAPD officers Monday at the LAPD's Pacific Division Station in Del Rey.

Restaurants including Chick-fil-A, Titos Tacos, California Pizza Kitchen, Hotcakes Bakes and SuzyCakes participated in the display of solidarity with officers on the heels of the ambushes that killed officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas.

One of the organizers, Dan Moschella, whose father was a police officer, said he wants officers to know their sacrifices are not unnoticed.

"It's emotional, when a police officer goes to work their children, their spouse, their significant other, they don't know for sure if they're coming home, they're going into harms way every time they put on that uniform," he said.

Retired LAPD officer Cristina Coria, who was shot in the line of duty in 2000 during a hostage standoff, said seeing the tragic shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge has been difficult for her.

"Once you're a police officer, always a police officer and hearing this makes me sick and sad," she said. "I feel like we've gone backwards in time instead of forwards, and it's getting worse. We should have respect for everyone out there. They're dedicating their lives for people they don't even know."

The LAPD, meanwhile, is stepping up safety measures for officers. For example, officers are being sent out on patrol in pairs.

Still, many officers told CBS2's Adrianna Weingold that they feel their community fully supports them on a daily basis.