ATLANTA — The National Sheriff’s Association made a heartbreaking realization on a post to their Facebook page. The post made many aware that seven officers, deputies and troopers have been killed - just 13 days into 2019.
Six of the deaths were in the line of duty, with the seventh happening as an officer prepared to leave for work.
The six officer deaths represent nearly a 30 percent increase in line of duty deaths compared to the same time in 2018.
Jan. 5 - Utah
Provo Police Department Officer Joseph Shinners was shot and killed on while trying to catch a fugitive.
Jan. 7 - Ohio
Colerain Township Police Officer Dale Woods was hit by a truck while trying to remove traffic cones from a crash scene.
Jan. 8 - Arizona
Salt River Police Office Clayton Townsend was hit by a distracted driver on during a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle admitted to texting while driving.
Jan 9. - Louisiana
Shreveport Police Department Officer Chatéri Payne was shot and killed outside her home on as she prepared to head to work. Her killer has not been found.
Jan. 10 - California
City of Davis Police Department Officer Natalie Corona was shot and killed while investigating a crash. Her accused killer later committed suicide.
Jan. 12 - Illinois
Illinois State Trooper Christopher Lambert was hit by a vehicle on January while investigating a crash.
Jan. 13 - Alabama
Birmingham Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter was shot and killed on while investigating two burglary suspects outside a nightclub.
Putting that into perspective, close to 150 state and local officers were killed in 2018, a 12 percent increase from 2017, according to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund.
While the deaths are alarming in and of themselves, the numbers don’t reflect the members of law enforcement who have been wounded so far this year.