The 2016 Mid-Year Fatalities report released Wednesday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund 78 percent spike in firearms-related officer fatalities compared to last year.
So far this year -- as of July 20 -- 67 federal, state and local law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty, which is an 8 percent increase over the 62 officers killed in the same period in 2015.
"All American citizens should be outraged at the number of officers who have been targeted, shot and killed this year," NLEOMF President and CEO Craig W. Floyd said in a statement. "The brutal assassinations of law enforcement officers in Texas and Louisiana shocked our nation and we saw similar ambush attacks on officers in other parts of the country earlier this year."
A total of 32 officers have been killed in firearms-related fatalities this year compared to 18 deaths during the same period last year. Many of those deaths have been attributed to ambush-style killings. Fourteen were the result of an ambush-style attack carried out upon unsuspecting officers, compared to three in the same period in 2015. Seven of the cases involved officers stopping a suspicious person. Five officers were killed while executing tactical arrests or high-risk warrants. Four officers were killed while attempting to arrest suspects and two officers were killed while handling or transporting prisoners.
For the first time in three years, traffic-related fatalities were not the leading cause of law enforcement deaths during the first half of the year. A total of 24 officers has been killed thus far -- a 17 percent decrease over the 29 officers killed in traffic-related incidents during the same period last year. Thirteen were automobile crashes involving a collision with another vehicle, five officers were struck while on the side of the road, four were motorcycle crashes and two were single-vehicle crashes.
More officers were killed in Texas -- 13 -- than any other state. Louisiana lost seven officers during the period. California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia all lost three officers thus far in 2016. Three federal officers were also killed in the line of duty in 2016.
Floyd stressed the importance of communities and the nation as a whole supporting law enforcement officers.
"Public safety is a partnership," he said. "Thankfully, the vast majority of Americans clearly support and appreciate the vital role law enforcement plays in our society. So, now is the time for all law-abiding citizens to partner with law enforcement in support of safe communities."
