WASHINGTON (AP) — More police officers have died in the line of duty this year in the United States than in 2017, according to data released Thursday. Most were killed by gunfire, and vehicul…
By ERIC TUCKER
WASHINGTON (AP) — More police officers have died in the line of duty this year in the United States than in 2017, according to data released Thursday. Most were killed by gunfire, and vehicular accidents claimed nearly as many officers’ lives.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said in a report that 144 federal, state and local officers have died so far in 2018. That figure represents roughly a 12 percent increase from the 129 who died in 2017.
The majority of the officers who died were either shot — 52 this year, up from 46 in 2017 — or fatally injured in car or motorcycle crashes, which accounted for 50 deaths.
