US police deaths rise 20 percent over last year
2009-07-13

Category Time Year Nations U.S. States Florida California Texas Pennsylvania Category Regions Profession Police Category 2007 Source (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The number of police officers killed in the United States in the first six months of 2009 increased 20 percent compared to the first half of last year, a police organization reported Monday.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) stressed however that 2009 remains the second lowest mid-year toll since 1965.

According to the organization 66 officers died in the line of duty from January 1 and June 30, and in the same period last year 55 officers died.

Following a 12-year trend, traffic-related incidents was the leading cause of deaths for police officers, having killed 35 officers this year -- an increase of 17 percent over 2008.

Death by gunfire also rose slightly, accounting for 22 deaths in the first half of 2009 compared to 20 last year.

Out of the 66 officers killed, all were men; 51 were white and their average age was 39. The states with most deadly incidents were Florida with seven, California (six), Pennsylvania (six) and Texas (six).