Protecting the Palm Beaches – a tribute to those who serve and sacrifice
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.
This is the unfortunate news you need to know:
- 148 officers died in the line of duty in 2018 & the top cause of death was murder for the first time on record
- 99 officers have died while serving in 2019
- Seven in Florida
This week we lost three members of law enforcement in the line of duty. In Indiana Trooper Peter Stephan was killed in an accident while responding to an emergency call. He’s survived by a wife and six-month-old daughter. In Texas, Deputy Matt Jones was struck and killed by a vehicle while assisting a disabled motorist. He’s survived by a wife. In California, Captain Albert Torres died of a heart attack after 14 hours of responding to forest fires that destroyed 20 homes and led to 100,000 people being evacuated.
In addition to losing 99 law enforcement officials this year, there are 54 widows and 123 children who’ve lost a parent. Please remember the families.
The average age of the fallen, 43. The average tour of duty, 14 years.
Remember to back the badge and spread the word. Media often aren't there for our law enforcement, but we can be. Let our police, and their families, know we support them every chance you get. They need it, now more than ever, just as we need them more than ever.