By Allan Lengelticklethewire.com
Bad news for U.S. law enforcement.
For the second year in a row, law enforcement fatalities — from shootings to traffic incidents –rose sharply nationwide during the first half of 2011. The figure included 40 officers killed by gunfire, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
The fund reported that 98 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the first six months of this year, a 14 percent increase over the 86 officers who died last year during the same period.
The report did show that the number of officers ,killed in traffic-related accidents — a total of 35– declined by 17 percent over 2010 during the six month period.
A breakdown of the 98 officers killed the first six months of this year were as follows: 40 officers were shot to death; 21 died in automobile crashes; 16 succumbed to job-related illnesses; seven were struck by automobiles while outside of their own vehicles; five were killed in motorcycle crashes; two were struck by a train; one officer died in an aircraft crash; one was beaten to death; one was electrocuted; one died in a fall; one was killed in a bomb blast; one was crushed to death; and one was strangled.
“The economy has forced reductions in training, safety equipment and personnel at law enforcement agencies across America,” stated NLEOMF Chairman Craig W. Floyd. “These budget cuts have put our officers at greater risk, especially as they face a more brazen, cold-blooded criminal element and a continuing terrorist threat,” he added.
