At times it is difficult to wrap our minds around the violence and deep-rooted racial divisions that rip through the seams of communities thousands of miles away from Hawaii.

We watch in horror the videos of African-American men fatally shot at the hands of police — the most recent in Louisiana and Minnesota. We sit in shock and disbelief as we learn that a lone sniper, who was black, killed five officers in Dallas and injured others — seemingly a perverse reaction to the spate of police shootings.

What occurred in Dallas Thursday night was the deadliest attack on police officers in the United States since 9/11. And it highlighted, once again, the racial tensions that exist in many cities and towns across the U.S. — and the desperate need to address them.

The actions of the Dallas shooter, Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, of Mesquite, Texas — during a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally — likely sought to further drive a wedge between police and citizens they are sworn to protect. So the exact opposite should happen.

During a news conference following the attack, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said, “We don’t feel much support on most days. Let’s not make today most days.”

It was a simple, yet poignant message: Law enforcement officers, who risk their very lives on the job daily, should feel as though their communities support them.

The public cannot judge or broadly characterize a police force merely by the actions of a very few, rogue officers. The fatal shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, for instance, deserve to be well scrutinized, but as citizens we must recognize it is the job of the respective police departments and the justice system to determine whether the acts are criminal in nature.

“The question is, Can we as citizens speak against the actions of a relatively few officers who blemish the reputation of their high calling and at the same time support and defend the 99 percent of officers who do their job professionally, honorably and bravely?” Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said Friday at prayer gathering. “I think we can and I think we must.”

In the aftermath of the Dallas tragedy, there came troubling reports of other attacks on police officers — in Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri. But now is not the time to lash out at law enforcement. Instead, there should be a call for more understanding, more interaction, more communication.

In Hawaii, a greater effort must be placed on community policing, which has worked in urban areas such as Chinatown and Waikiki. Citizens appreciate officers walking their beats rather than sitting behind the wheel of a marked cruiser. It may not always be practical, but every positive interaction with the public would lead to better relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The consistent and efficient use of body cameras, and cameras mounted on police vehicles could further build public trust.

We mourn the deaths of those unjustly slain at the hands of police. We mourn the officers in Dallas who were murdered protecting peaceful protesters. Their deaths should motivate us to strengthen the ties between the public and law enforcement, not weaken them.