By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
There 72 law enforcement officers slain nationwide in 2011, up from 56 in 2010, according to the FBI preliminary stats released Monday.
Of the total, 19 officers were killed during ambushes (14 during unprovoked attacks and five due to entrapment/premeditation situations); five were slain while investigating suspicious persons or circumstances; 11 were killed during traffic pursuits/stops; five of the officers interrupted robberies in progress or were pursuing robbery suspects; and four died while responding to disturbance calls (one being a domestic disturbance).
Six officers died during tactical situations; one died while conducting investigative activity; one officer died while handling or transporting a prisoner; and 20 officers were killed while attempting other arrests.
Of the 72 victims, 49 were wearing body armor at the times of their deaths. Seven of the slain officers had their service weapons stolen.
