The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has issued a statement on the shootings of officers that occurred over the weekend.
"In the span of a few hours on Friday night, six officers were shot in three different cities in both Florida and Pennsylvania, leaving two officers dead. This weekend, the Kissimmee (FL) Police Department mourned the loss of Officer Matthew Baxter and Sergeant Sam Howard. The Jacksonville (FL) Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police also work to recover after officers from their departments were injured in a rash of shootings that left law enforcement and our nation shaken.
On behalf of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund board of directors and staff, we offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of those officers, their colleagues and the affected communities. We must never forget that our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day for our safety and protection. And we are thankful to the men and women who bravely and courageously answer that call to service.
So far in 2017, 80 law enforcement officers have died in the performance of duty; 30 of them were killed by gunfire. These officers risked their lives for the safety and protection of their communities and never made it home to their families. We must always honor and remember these fallen heroes, support the surviving family members left behind and do everything possible to make it safer for those who continue to serve and protect our nation. There are 21,183 names inscribed on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial walls. Sadly, there will be many new additions next year."
About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 21,183 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now building the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts, and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.
