On average, one law enforcement officer is killed somewhere in America every 53 hours. The first known line-of-duty death occurred in 1792, when New York's Deputy Sheriff Isaac Smith was shot and killed. Since then, over 17,900 officers have died while performing their duties. According to the Officer Down Memorial page, there have been 5 police officers killed in the line of duty this month with a total of 85 so far for the year. Line of duty deaths are currently up 26% from last year.
The Department of Justice estimates that 25% of state and local police are not issued bullet proof vests. Of approximately 1,200 officers killed in the line of duty last year, over 30% could have been saved by a bullet proof vest. It has been estimated that the risk of dying from gunfire is fourteen times higher for an officer not wearing a bulletproof vest.
We do not want to see any of our officers added to the statistics. Every day the officers in Chester County put their lives on the line for us. Let's show them our appreciation by raising the money that they need to supply every officer with a bullet proof vest!
Important Links
The Chester News & Reporter
In-Vest
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
IACP/DuPont™ Kevlar Survivors' Club®
http://www2.dupont.com/Kevlar/en_US/uses_apps/law_enforcement/survivors_club.html
The Officer Down Memorial Page
SCIway.net - South Carolina's Front Door
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