Obama tells Texas widow that targeting cops is ‘unacceptable’

President Obama called the widow of a slain sheriff’s deputy in Texas on Monday to offer his condolences on behalf of the country, according to a statement provided by the White House.

The White House said Obama promised he would “continue to highlight the uncommon bravery that police officers show in our communities every single day” when he spoke with Kathleen Goforth.

“They put their lives on the line for our safety,” Obama added. “Targeting police officers is completely unacceptable — an affront to civilized society.”

Darren Goforth was gunned down by his patrol car at a gas station Friday night. The 30-year-old suspect has been charged with capital murder.

The prosecutor in the case has said the suspect, who is black, allegedly shot the white police officer 15 times. Police had said over the weekend the shooting appeared unprovoked.

The case roiled debate over the weekend about safety for police officers.

“As I said in my State of the Union Address, we’ve got to be able to put ourselves in the shoes of the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the door at the end of his shift,” Obama told the deputy’s widow, calling for “the safety of police officers wherever they serve.”