Protecting the Palm Beaches for May 25th
Bottom Line: This weekly feature is designed to recognize those who've paid the ultimate price to serve their communities and to serve as a reminder of what our police risk to keep us safe. We highlight a remarkable effort by local law enforcement each week. Joel Malkin brings you the perspective in local news from leaders in local law enforcement.
I bring you the unfortunate news you need to know:
128 police officers died in the line of duty in 2017
60 officers have fallen in 2018
6 of the officers we've lost served in Florida
It's been an especially deadly week for law enforcement. We lost our second and third female officers and sixth fallen officer in Florida. In Mississippi officer Paul Morris died in a crash while on patrol. In Daytona Beach officer Thomas Coulter died during a training exercise. He's survived by his wife. In Idaho Sergeant Kent Swanson died of a heart attack while responding to an emergency. In Louisiana officer Ayrian Williams died in an auto accident while responding to a call to provide backup to an emergency. In Maryland officer Amy Caprio was murdered while responding to a burglary in process. She's survived by her husband. In North Carolina Trooper Samuel Newton Bullard was killed in pursuit of a vehicle during a high-speed chase.
Too often there are untold stories of the people who've sacrificed their lives in service of their communities. The average age of the officers at the time of their death was 39. The average length of time they'd served at the time of their passing is 11 years and 1 month.
Remember to back the badge and spread the word. The media often aren't there for our law enforcement, but we can be. Let our police know we support them every chance you get. They need it, now more than ever, just as we need them more than ever.