Pro-police protesters rally in Palm Springs

About 50 people gathered at the Palm Springs Police Department Friday morning. They marched from the station to city hall while holding signs that read, "Blue Lives Matter," "Police Lives Matter," "Respect. Black Lives Matter. Respect," and more.

One organizer told News Channel 3 said she was showing her support, "because they’ve been used and abused the last couple weeks and they need some love."

"We need our police because they are peace officers for a reason," protester Barbara Beaty said.

Cathedral City resident David Konsbruck weighed in saying he showed up to "support the heroes that are in the building behind me."

Many believed it was time to rally behind law enforcement following recent weeks of heavy scrutiny and attacks on police.

Federal law enforcement officer, Patrick Underwood, was killed after being shot near an anti-police protest in Oakland last month. Santa Cruz Sheriff's Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller lost his life after being fatally shot during an ambush in Santa Cruz County. Las Vegas police officer Shay Mikalonis was critically wounded after being shot in the back of the head at a 'Black Lives Matter' protest on June 1. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Deputy Nicholas Dreyfus was shot in the face outside a police station in Paso Robles on Wednesday.

Participants of Friday's rally also spoke on the death of George Floyd, and the officer involved in his killing.

"Without our police we have chaos and I think it’s disrespectful what’s been done to them. One bad cop doesn’t represent the entire police force in the United States," one protester said.

Thousands have called for police reform following the disturbing video that surfaced, which showed the moments leading up to George Floyd's death.

"What that cop did was wrong? Absolutely, but there’s justice served, he’s getting charged with it. I don’t understand the protests," protester Doug Andrews said.

Andrews attended the rally, and said he supported all races.

"Rest in peace George Floyd, he had a criminal record. Don’t get in trouble with the law and you won’t have a problem, period," Andrews said.

Organizers planned to protest at the Riverside County Sheriff Department. They changed course following the heated exchange that unfolded this week between Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem, Christy Holstege, and the Palm Springs Police Association.

In a letter, Holstege called on the a review of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. That's after Riverside County Board of Supervisors declined to vote on Supervisor Manuel Perez's proposal for the review on Tuesday. Holstege also cited a long history "of racist city policies and policing..." in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

The Palm Springs Police Officers' Association fired back by saying it repeatedly works to improve community relations, and would not "stand idly while those city leaders vilify our officers and department."

"I’d like to see reforms, fire the bad cops, arrest them if they’ve committed a crime, and bring in the good cops, bring in the good people," protester Rod Garcia said.

One man also showed up with a "Black Lives Matter" sign. He said although he supports police, he understands the plight of what many are going through.

"I realized that I was in some of the minority. I started to talk to some of the people and they agreed with me. It’s beautiful when we have a common element when we can understand each other," Palm Desert resident, David Gonzales said.