I went to the Oakland Athletics opening game on Friday, and I was surprised to see how much support there was in the stadium for the four police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

A’s fans welcomed them with claps and OPD chants as police officers made their way on to the field. The chants lasted about ten minutes. It seemed like the officers weren’t expecting that reaction, since they seemed to be looking around in surprise at how long the tribute continued. Officers waved, bowed, and took off their hats.

The surprise was far from over; there were different booths through the Coliseum collecting monetary donations for the officers’ families’ trust funds. A’s owner Lew Wolff also announced during the game that he will match the donations for that night.

But with all this support, there are still those who feel Lovelle Mixon—the person responsible for the officers’ deaths—is a hero whose death also needs to be remembered. Just recently I received a group invitation that pays tribute to Mixon. I’ve been following the story, and so maybe that’s why I got the invitation. But the assumption that I’d want to join the group offended me.

But I must admit—and even disgusts me—I do thank Mixon for reminding of risk that cops are exposed to, but it re-enforced my respect and admiration of their work, even though it came at a tragic price.