WASHINGTON (AP) — More police officers died in the line of duty last year in the United States than in 2017, according to data released Dec. 27. The most common cause of death was gunfire, and vehicular accidents claimed nearly as many officers’ lives.
No San Marcos officers were killed last year, though the Dec. 4, 2017 murder of Officer Kenneth Copeland is still fresh on local minds, as he was the first from the department to be killed in the line of duty. Copeland was shot multiple times while, with other officers, he was serving a warrant for domestic violence. His accused shooter, Stewart Thomas Mettz, is still awaiting trial.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said in a report that 144 federal, state and local officers have died so far in 2018. That figure represents roughly a 12 percent increase from the 129 who died in 2017.
