Final yr was the deadliest yr on document for police within the U.S., in line with the Nationwide Regulation Enforcement Memorial Fund. The main explanation for loss of life was COVID-19, the group's newly launched Regulation Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report mentioned. The report discovered 301 officers died from COVID-19 in 2021, a 65% improve from the yr earlier than. Seven states — California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas — had greater than seven officer deaths because of COVID-19. Georgia's Muscogee County Sheriff Gregory Countryman instructed CBS Information that the virus continues to unfold via his division and that he at present has 18 energetic instances. Barely greater than 40% of the county's residents have been vaccinated. "Not solely are we preventing with the criminals, we're additionally preventing with this virus that is on the market," he mentioned. As a result of the report relies on preliminary knowledge, it is attainable the variety of COVID-related deaths in 2021 might nonetheless improve, the Nationwide Regulation Enforcement Memorial Fund mentioned. However COVID-19 is not the one motive 2021 was the deadliest yr on document for officers. Sixty-one officers had been killed within the line of obligation by firearms, a 36% improve from 2020, the report mentioned. Fifty-eight officers had been killed in traffic-related accidents, a 38% bounce over the yr earlier than. Former Connecticut state trooper Troy Anderson instructed CBS Information that the variety of officer deaths within the line of obligation deserves extra consideration. "The numbers, fairly frankly, are staggering," he mentioned.
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