The first American police officer died in the line of duty in 1786. There was one such death that year.
By the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's count, in 2020, 373 officers died in the line of duty. In 2021, 472 officers did. If you add in 2022's total--so far--that's almost one thousand officers dead from doing their jobs in two year's time.
For people who put their lives on the line for us every day, I think that's way too many. I also think they deserve more gratitude than what they receive.
So I have a new charity to support. After what the fallen police officers have done, this is the very least I can do.
