The number of police officers killed during the first half of 2004 increased by more than seven percent compared to the same period last year.
Between January and June of this year, 82 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers were died while on duty, according to preliminary statistics from a joint effort by two organizations, the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund and the Concerns of Police Survivors.
Over the last 10 years, an average of 166 officers per year have died in the line of duty.