A 2005 report indicated that 153 law enforcement officials across America died in the line of duty , marking a continued declining trend over the last thirty years. In the 1970s, more than 220 officials were fatally injured every year, making it the deadliest decade in law enforcement history. But with the exception of 2001 and the large number police fatalities in the 9/11 attacks attacks, the officer death rate has did exceed 160 every year.

California, which lost seventeen officials over the last year, had the state’s most line-of-duty fatal injuries, followed by Texas, with fourteen, and Georgia, with ten. These figures were released by the nation’s Law Enforcement Officials Commemorative Fund ( NLEOMF ) and the Concerns of Police Survivors ( COPS ), 2 non profit groups established to commemorate those who fell in the line of duty. Although the number of fatalities have declined,  more safety measures are requested to further reduce these numbers.

“The fact remains that an officer dies just about every other day, and we want to stay targeted on the measures which will protect their lives,” related State Law Enforcement Officers Commemorative Fund Boss Craig W Floyd. The NLEOMF and its partner organization, the International organisation of Chiefs of Police ( IACP ), spotted the significance of body armor.

Because this is the second successive year in which traffic-related accidents either equaled or topped gunfire as the premiere reason for death, the NLEOMF and COPS are asking for better driver coaching for officials, safer vehicles, and a driving public that’s more conscientious to officer safety when approaching accident scenes and traffic stops.

Each officer who died in the line of duty during 2005 will be honored at a Candlelight Vigil on May thirteen, 2006, during Countrywide Police Week. When law enforcement officers die in the line of duty , their families need robust support to show the bereaved that their loved ones gave their lives for something greater than themselves.

Police officers put their lives at risk everyday, without their efforts, anarchy would reign in society and law and order would be imposed only by those who have the power to wield it for their own purpose, may they be gangs, organized crime, or petty criminals. Let us not forget their sacrifice and, in turn, the sacrifice of those they left behind.