Protecting the Palm Beaches for June 15th
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
70 officers have fallen in 2018
6 of the officers we've lost served in Florida
It was another deadly week for those who don a badge and head out to protect their communities this week as we lost three officers. Department of Homeland Security Manager in the Customs and Border Protection division, Christopher Todd Bacon, was killed in an accident with a tractor-trailer. He served in the Navy prior to his time at DHS. He's survived by a wife and four children. In Wisconsin officer Charles Irvin Jr. Died in an accident while in pursuit of another vehicle. In New York, Sergeant Charles Salaway became the fourth first responder on 9/11 to die due to a related illness within two weeks. He left behind a wife and three sons. His wife and one of his sons also serve in law enforcement.
Too often there are untold stories of the people who've sacrificed their lives in service of their communities. This is our small part to attempt to recognize those who've sacrificed the most for our safety. The average age of the officers at the time of their death was 40. The average length of time they'd served at the time of their passing is 12 years and four 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.