Police Fatalities Increasing In Indiana, Nationwide

Five Indiana law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty this year.

Charlestown, Indiana police Officer Benton Bertram was killed on December 12 while in a high-speed pursuit of a suspect. 

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - A new report says police fatality rates in Indiana are rising. 

Craig Floyd from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says it's a trend seen across the country. Nationally, 144 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers died in the line of duty over the past year, representing a 12 percent increase over the 129 officers who died in the line of duty in 2017.

“Sadly this reminds us that public safety is a dangerous job and can come at a very steep price. We must never take the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers for granted, and we must remember the families of the fallen who are left behind,” says Floyd, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

In Indiana this year, five officers gave the ultimate sacrifice, while last year there was only one line-of-duty death.  Two of the officers who died this year were shot and killed by suspects, while another was killed in an auto crash. 

“It was a very tragic year, really, for the State of Indiana,” adds Floyd.

Floyd says firearm-related deaths among officers are up 15-percent from last year.  A decline had been expected because states and law enforcement agencies are going more to promote officer safety and wellness.

He urges lawmakers to enforce harsher sentences for repeat violent offenders and funding for safety equipment, before police fatality rates grow higher. 

For a complete copy of the preliminary 2018 Law Enforcement Fatalities Report, go to www.LawMemorial.org/FatalitiesReport.