Protecting the Palm Beaches for May 18th
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
54 officers have fallen in 2018
5 of the officers we've lost served in Florida
We've lost three officers over the past week. In Pennsylvania officer Alex Sable died during a SWAT training exercise. He was also a Marine veteran. Alex is survived by a wife and three children. Texas Inspector General Richard Hale was killed in an accident with an 18-wheeler following a meeting with state prosecutors. He left behind a wife and eight children. On Tuesday we lost our 5th officer on duty in Florida. Jacksonville officer Lance Whitaker was killed in an accident while responding to an emergency call.
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 7 months.
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.