A new report from The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) found that the number of “blue lives” lost in the line of duty increased dramatically in 2016.
Of the 135 police officers that died in the line duty in 2016, 64 were killed in firearms-related incidents.
This is a 56% increase compared to 2015.
Those shootings included 21 ambush-style attacks, which is “the highest total in more than two decades” reports NLEOMF.
“We’ve never seen a year in my memory when we’ve had an increase of this magnitude in officer shooting deaths,” says NLEOMF president Craig Floyd. “These officers were killed simply because of the uniform they wear and the job they do. This is unacceptable to the human society…”
The impact on police officers across the country has been profound. Agencies struggle to find new recruits and current officers are constantly on edge.
In analyzing this data, it would be irresponsible to overlook the role of Black Lives Matter and other antagonistic groups who often fight back against police.
Far from condemning them, however, President Obama has actually encouraged Black Lives Matter and similar groups. I think we can place the blame for the rise in officer deaths squarely on his shoulders.
Retired police officer Lt. Randy Sutton, a rep. for Blue Lives Matter, agrees that Black Lives Matter is at least partially to blame. The movement “legitimizes a call for terror, a call for violence. It adds an element of danger for law enforcement.”
“When there’s a mob in place and fervor builds up, people do things they wouldn’t normally do independently,” he continues. “And it can inspire lone wolf attacks. There are weak-minded people, some mentally disturbed, who absorb this call to action and act upon it.”
The deadliest assaults of 2016 occurred in Dallas and Baton Rogue – both following the deaths of black men who died at the hands of police officers.
“There are risks every officer knows going in,” says Sutton. “But what is particularly frightening and disturbing at this point are the assassinations and entrapments, where police officers are lured into situations [in order] to kill them.”
Editor’s note: Thanks Obama