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
- 101 officers have died while serving in 2019
- Seven in Florida
This week we lost two members of law enforcement in the line of duty. In Montana Deputy Jake Allmendinger was killed while assisting a stranded motorist. A vehicle slid down an icy mountain road and struck Jake. He’s survived by a wife and three children. In California Deputy Brian Ishmael was murdered while responding to a robbery.
In addition to losing 101 law enforcement officials this year, there are 55 widows and 126 children who’ve lost a parent. Please remember the families.
The average age of the fallen, 43. The average tour of duty, 13 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.