The recent ambush attack that killed five Dallas police officers contributed to a spike in deaths of those across the country sworn to serve and protect their communities. A biannual review from National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shows as of July 20th, 67 federal, state and local officers died on the job, an eight-percent increase from the same time period in 2015. Steve Groeninger with the Memorial Fund says Indiana has lost one officer this year.
The sheriff’s department is holding a golf outing later this month (August 12th) in Kokomo to raise money for a scholarship fund in Officer Koontz’ name.
Groeniger says most people don’t realize what it’s like to be a member of law enforcement.
Nationally, 32 officers have been killed this year in incidents involving a firearm, and there were 24 traffic-related fatalities. The most fatalities occurred in Texas, with 11 officers killed, followed by seven officer deaths in Louisiana.