Protecting The Palm Beaches, A Tribute to Those Who Serve and Sacrifice – June 21st, 2024
Bottom Line: This weekly feature is designed to recognize those who've paid the ultimate price in service and to serve as a reminder of what our police risk to keep us safe. After years of increases in LODs, including multiple record years, thankfully 2023 produced the fewest line-of-duty deaths in the 2000’s. Unfortunately, that progress hasn’t been sustained this year. LODs are 3% higher year-to-date.
- We lost 123 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2023 including 3 in Florida
- We’ve lost 66 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2024 including 1 in Florida
- Through May 164 law enforcement officers had been shot in the line of duty, a decrease of 1% over a year ago.
We’ve lost this hero since the previous update.
- In Arizona, Detective Ryan So (pictured) died of injuries sustained while serving a search warrant and conducting an arrest. Ryan is survived by a wife and three daughters.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age is 39, the average tour-of-duty – 11 years. In addition to losing 66 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 39 widows and 79 children who’ve lost a parent.