After falling to their lowest level in nearly five decades in 2008, line-of-duty deaths among law enforcement officers nationwide rose 20 percent during the first six months of 2009, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).

Preliminary statistics compiled by the organization indicated there were 66 officer deaths between January 1 and June 30, 2009, compared with 55 during the same period last year. All major categories of officer fatalities increased between 2008 and 2009:

• Officers killed by gunfire rose slightly, from 20 in the first half of 2008 to 22 in the first six months of 2009
• The number of officers killed in traffic-related incidents increased 17 percent during the first six months of 2009, from 30 to 35
• Eight officers succumbed to job-related physical ailments during the first half of 2009, double the number during the first six months of 2008. In addition, one officer died in a helicopter crash this year.

Despite the uptick in number of officer deaths, their fatalities remain low when compared with mid-year totals in recent history.

To read the complete report, click here.

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