Tulsa Police Grateful, Say Support 'Is Overwhelmingly Emotional'

The Mingo Valley Police Division, where both Sgt. Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan worked, has been flooded with support through flowers, gifts, and words of encouragement.

People across Green Country, and the world, have paid their respects to the Tulsa Police Department after Sgt. Johnson and Officer Zarkeshan were shot earlier this week.

A Mingo Valley supervisor said the support they're seeing is overwhelming and it shows the impact Sgt. Johnson and Officer Zarkeshan have on Tulsa. 

"When I first pulled in and I saw that car decorated, it was overwhelmingly emotional," said Captain Shane Tuell.

He said officers in the Mingo Valley Division are overwhelmed with grief. 

"People aren't used to seeing the human side of us, to see that, you know, that we're broken and we're fragile," said Tuell.

Tuell said support from the community and letters from across the world are helping during a difficult time. 

"A guy that had travelled here from Italy and always wanted to ride with a police officer of the United States, rode at this division and met Craig Johnson," said Captain Tuell. "When he heard about it all the way in Italy it affected him and his letter was emotionally crushing. You just don't realize the people that you touch when you're an officer."​

Police said Officers Zarkeshan is showing signs of improvement in the hospital and if his rate of recovery continues, he could be released from ICU next week.