The 28% year over year increase does not include accidental deaths.
According to data collected from the FBI, the number of police officers who have been killed while on the job is up 28 percent compared to this time last year.
As of July 14, there have been 32 felonious officer deaths, with seven officers killed in ambushes. The data does not include officers who were accidentally killed while on the job in traffic accidents or other similar tragedies.
Killings of police officers could be connected to the nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice. A report from ABC News found that more officers have been killed during times of civil unrest.
“Going out on the street and directing violence to somebody who represents the government, because police are an arm of the government, is the easiest thing to do. There is a constant search for the scapegoat for whatever is happening in the society, and the scapegoat ends up being law enforcement regardless of what it is that people have grievances about,” said Maria “Maki” Haberfeld, a professor of police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
“Any time the anti-police rhetoric heats up, it sends a message that it is open season on law enforcement. We saw it in 2016, and we’re seeing it now,” she added.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the safety and protection of law enforcement officers across the nation.
- For America’s civil unrest to be brought to a halt and law and order restored.
- For mayors and city council people to consider very carefully the calls to defund or diminish police departments.
- For the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
- That corrupt police officers would be identified and relieved of duty.
Sources: Washington Examiner ABC News
