PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The annual Pasco County Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was held last week at the Historic Dade City Courthouse.
In memory of the brave heroes who died in the line of duty, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, New Port Richey Police Department, Port Richey Police Department, Dade City Police Department, Zephyrhills Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, and Tarpon Springs Police Department gathered to reflect on their lives and legacies.
“We also honored the fallen officers who died of natural causes or in transit to or from their jobs, as well as those who died in the line of duty protecting our nation in military service. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Thank you to all who attended and to our community for their support,” said Pasco Sheriff’s Office in a statement.
In the news: VIDEO: Migrant Surge Lines Up At Southern Border As End Of Trump-Era Title 42 Looms
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 605 law enforcement officers in the United States died in the line of duty in 2022.
This is the highest number of line-of-duty deaths since 2016. Of the 605 deaths, 448 were due to felonious acts, 131 were due to accidents, and 26 were due to natural causes. The leading causes of felonious deaths were gunfire (355), vehicular assault (34), and stabbing (13).
The leading causes of accidental deaths were motor vehicle crashes (87), aircraft crashes (10), and drownings (7). The leading causes of natural deaths were heart attacks (10) and strokes (5).
The states with the highest number of line-of-duty deaths in 2022 were Texas (35), California (18), New York (18), Florida (9), and Georgia (11). The states with the lowest number of line-of-duty deaths in 2022 were Vermont (0), Maine (0), New Hampshire (0), Rhode Island (0), and Delaware (0).
In the news: As Protests Erupt In NYC Subway Death, Lawyers For Former Marine Say It Was Accidental
The number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty has been increasing in recent years.
In 2022, line-of-duty deaths were up 11% from the previous year.
This increase is likely due to a number of factors, including the increasing number of violent crimes in the United States, the increasing number of police officers on the streets, and the increasing number of police officers who are being targeted by criminals.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.