Superheroes Are 'Like Cops,' Dallas Police Chief Says in Powerful Speech

— -- Superheros are "like cops," Dallas Police Chief David Brown told a crowd gathered at a vigil Monday night, days after five police officers were shot and killed by a gunman in Dallas.

When Brown stepped to the podium, he began by quoting the opening sequence of "Superman."

"Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look it's a train, it's a plane, no, it's Superman," Brown said Monday night.

"As a young child I ran home from school to hear that, so I could see the reruns of the television series 'Superman,'" Brown said. "I love superheroes. Because they're now like what I aspired to be when I grew up. They're like cops. They're like police officers. Superheroes."

One year later: Dallas officers killed by sniper

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On July 7, 2016, a sniper gunned down a group of police officers in downtown Dallas during a peaceful demonstration against police killings. The attack left 5 officers dead, and 9 others injured. People rally in Dallas, July 7, 2016, to protest the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

Laura Buckman/AFP/Getty Images

"And cops are mission focused," Brown continued. "Give us a job to do, we'll focus on accomplishing the mission. So what's our mission today? It's helping these families understand how to conquer this tragedy.

"We are now your surrogate family members," he said. "We're your brothers and your sisters. When you need us, you call. Because we'll not only be loving you today, we'll be loving you always."

The chief then acknowledged each officer who died in the line of duty.

"Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look it's a train, it's a plane, no, it's Patricio Zamarripa. Look, it's Brent Thompson. Look, it's Michael Krol. Look, it's Lorne Ahrens. Look, it's Michael Smith," Brown said.

He concluded: "God speed. God bless you. God bless the Dallas Police Department."