Some veterans worry about perceptions after police ambush gunman were ex-military

Many military veterans thought they had overcome the stigma that military service changes them, but now some are worried after recent police ambush shooters were ex-military.

Four year Army vet Jacquain Reed said he’s doubly concerned about perception because both shooters in the Dallas and Baton Rouge police attacks served in the military and were African American.

“Not only are African Americans looked at as terrorist but veterans are also now,” Reed said, adding that he feels perceptions have changed even among people he knows. “I’m kind of worried how they think about me now, because I have reached out to some of them and they have not reached back out to me.”

Jaime Resendez was in Baghdad in 2003 and is now an attorney and DISD school board member. He agrees recent events can feed a negative perception of veterans. He said most vets who come back assimilate back into civilian life and are productive citizens.

“I do get the frustration and the rage,” Resendez said. ”I’ve been mistreated by police officers in the past and I think part of the thing that needs to be addressed are certain aspects of the police culture.”

Tony burris served in the Army during Vietnam and said while both used their military training to carry out their missions, he thinks something else was at play and their actions had nothing to do with being ex-military.

“What matters to us is I might be white, you might be black, but underneath we're still red,” Burris said.