Cop Killing On The Rise Nationwide, Protesters Blamed

NYPD officers at a funeral for slain officer Russel Timoshenko in 2007. (Bebeto Matthews/AP)

In the wake of the murder of 22-year NYPD veteran Peter Figoski yesterday, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has announced that the number of law enforcement officers across the country who have died in the line of duty is already up 14% over last year. There have been 166 total fatalities so far this year, up from 146 in 2010. And Craig Floyd, Chairman of the fund, says, "For the first time in 14 years, firearms-related deaths will outnumber traffic and 'other'-related deaths." Why the increased death toll. Theories include budget cuts, increasingly violent criminals, and "anti-government" protests.

"These deaths come at a time when we're drastically cutting back on budgets for police departments across the country," Floyd tells CNN. His Communications Director, Stephen G, points too previously incarcerated individuals willing to avoid jail or die trying by shooting their way out of situations. "We're seeing more of that in recent years," says Groeninger. In New York State, 11 officers have been killed so far this year, up from two deaths last year [pdf].

Of course, you can't forget about the dangerous impact of political activism—these protesters share their part of the blame, too. "I think that we have a strong anti-government sentiment in our country, similar to the 1970s, the deadliest decade in law enforcement," says Floyd. "In the '70s we saw a lot of protests and disrespect for law enforcement officials, and we're seeing the same thing today." Indeed, people, especially here in NYC, just don't seem to have as much respect for cops these days. Thank heavens Mayor Bloomberg stepped in and evicted Occupy Wall Street when he did, before more police officers paid the price!

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By John Del Signore in News on December 13, 2011 5:36 PM

Comments [rss]

crusher153

i'm just saying. i don't think peaceful protestors have anything to do with killing cops. the real problem we see is the crime rate going way up cause our economy is in the shitter. more people committing crimes= more shootings= more cops getting shot. find ways to improve economy, get people employed and crime will go down.

i'm not a rocket scientist either! can you believe that!

aktobk

the only actual anti-gov related police shootings i've read about comes from the good ole far right. if you haven't heard about "sovereign citizens" before, a quick google search will bring up some info. oh look here's one now. http://abcnews.go.com/WN/deadl...

also i would like to point out that the large police presence in dealing with these protesters merely instigates and creates flash points that the nypd uses to demoralize the movements ideas. and excuses further use of excessive force. creating negative encounters on both sides. in a craptacular cycle that further separates civilians from cops and ultimately leads to the "us vs them" mentality. bleh.

Guest

I may not exactly be in line with all of the protesting (some of it makes sense, a lot of it is just posturing), but saying that the rise in cop deaths is related to it is just nonsense. Unless there are cops being killed at the protests, the theory that the protests are causing more cop deaths is ridiculous.

BlackWallStreet10mm

"It's not what you know, it's what you can prove!"

dreadbeat

I couldn't agree more.

Adam Moreira

Tragic loss of Officer Figoski, but how can this be blamed on Occupy and related? This appeared to be a drug deal gone bad in yet another hardscrabble inner-city flat.

Red Ryder

"Anti-government sentiment" doesn't have to mean "protesters." More shitstain, misleading journalism, if you can call it that. Blech.

the4thcoming

Also referring to the photo above: Would I be wrong if I suggested something that a POLICE OFFICER recently suggested be done at the west Indian day parade?

Why don't we just drop a nuke on them and wipe them all out.

Guest

I think it's highly unlikely that the wimpy protesters affected the cop killing rate.

The question is what would, in fact, be an effective tool to raise those numbers.

Incidentally, look at that picture; talk about missed carpet bombing opportunity.

BlackWallStreet10mm

Well, it is pretty clear why you signed in as "guest"

the4thcoming

Hahahaha

Guest

Let's be friends.

shocktheday

You two belong with each other. It's touching.

the4thcoming

I feel sorry for your wife. Seriously.

shocktheday

Maybe you two can go on a Thelma & Louise escapade and shed yourselves of your inhibitions, and at the same time, elude law enforcement which you two hate so much.

the4thcoming

Obliged

petey2

I'm big pro police, and anti the OWS protesters and movement, BUT I doubt that the protests are really fueling the anti-police sentiment in this country.

Also based on the quote you guys provided AND the CNN article, Floyd doesn't blame the protesters, but points out a correlation between the increase in protests, and the attitude of disrespect towards the police.

Sensationalism/misleading headlines strike again.

BlackWallStreet10mm

So you don't think that our subversive laws and the pathetic excuse for a justice system we have has anything to do with American citizens being angry with law enforcement? How about the fact that a billioniare is mayor and uses NYPD like his own private security firm? What about the fact that the police are given orders to lash out violently towards people who protest, and follow them for no reason other than they want to keep their job? What about things like the drug war, which is a war on American people, not actually drugs.

Then again, why am I wasting my time talking to someone who is clearly closed minded and not willing to see any opposing point of views, and only considers his own thoughts as truth and reality.

the4thcoming

You DO mean the cops' attitude and disrepect towards ppl who are exercising their first amendment rite. Right?
Not to mention the reporters and photographers etc that have been brutalized, and are STILL being brutalized to this day. Regardless of credentials.

The police have long been disgruntled city employees and have, for a long time, been inconsiderate and disrespectful towards civilians. There are plenty of videos on the web to provide your naive perspective with some reality.