A mid-year report by an organization that tracks law enforcement officer deaths notes an alarming spike in the number of officers shot and killed so far this year. The report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said that 32 officers have been killed from gun violence in 2016. That's almost double than last year's number of 18.
Two of the 32 are from Kansas City Kansas' police force, and it's hitting close to home for officers here.
"It definitely makes you wonder, you know, how can I protect myself out there? How can I do this job safer for myself and for the community?" said KCK officer Cameron Morgan.
After five Dallas police officers were killed by snipers following a Black Lives Matter protest in July, there were some changes for KCK officers. Now, no matter the call, they always go out with another officer.
The NLEOMF study shows shooting deaths this year are up 78 percent compared to this time last year.
“I don't think I'd realized it had increased by that much in shooting deaths. It does kind of make you think and say our nation is going through some things right now,” said Morgan.
The states with the highest shooting deaths are Texas and Louisiana. This is after Baton Rouge was also hit by an ambush style attack that killed 3 officers.
KCK officers said they were surprised the number was so high and that it shows the nation is going through something right now. Historically, it was more dangerous time to be an officer in the 1970s . During that time, an average of 127 officers died each year from gun violence.
Over the last 10 years up to 2015, the average is much lower at 52. The study attributed that to less violent crime, more bulletproof vests and better trauma care.
The NLEOMF sites traffic incidents as the second leading cause of officer deaths this year. It said 24 officers were killed by cars so far in 2016. According to the website, this is a 17 percent decrease over the 29 officers killed in traffic-related incidents during the same period last year.
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Belinda Post can be reached at belinda.post@kshb.com.
