Vancouver police are offering condolences for the victims of the Dallas shooting spree, a tragedy that’s hitting close to home for law enforcement agencies across North America.

Thursday’s massacre, which was committed during a peaceful protest against two fatal police shootings this week, represents the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since 9/11. Five officers were killed and at least seven others were injured.

On Friday, the Vancouver Police Department said though police in the U.S. and Canada face different challenges, particularly around gun violence, incidents like these always have an impact north of the border.

“We will likely be sending a few officers down there to show our support,” Const. Brian Montague said. “Very upsetting, concerning and tragic set of circumstances.”

Despite Canada having much stricter gun control laws, local police still put their lives on the line dealing with armed criminals, Montague added.

“There’s always a concern when you put on a uniform that someone is going to do something foolish,” he said. “Our officers are extremely dedicated, they’re extremely courageous and they’ll always be running toward the danger as others are running away.”

The department’s condolences were echoed by other police agencies across Metro Vancouver, as well as the RCMP and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

According to Texas police, shooting suspect Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, expressed anger against police during an hours-long negotiation that ended with officers killing him with a robot-delivered bomb.

Authorities said the suspect specifically mentioned the killings of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old who was shot several times while being held on the ground in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Tuesday, and the shooting of Philando Castile, a 32-year-old who was shot in his car during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota the next day.

The Vancouver chapter of Black Lives Matter planned a vigil for both men this weekend prior to the Dallas shooting spree. Co-founder Cicely-Belle Blain said the group still intends to gather Sunday outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, and that members will also be paying respects to the police officers who were killed this week.

“That will definitely be a part of it,” Blain told CTV News.

Vancouver members have been in communication with other Black Lives Matter chapters, Blain said, and they all want to stress that their organization is strictly committed to peaceful resistance.

“Black Lives Matter does not condone violence in any way. We have always been a peaceful organization, an organization that just wants justice for the black community, and that never means attacking police officers,” she said.  

The Vancouver Police Department said it has a "very good relationship" with the local Black Lives Matter chapter, and that officers will be present at Sunday's rally. Organizers expect up to 2,000 people to attend.