52 Police Officers Have Died in the Line of Duty in 2016 So Far

The list of police officers who have been shot and killed in the line of duty is growing longer by the month. Thus far in 2016, 52 have been shot dead on the job.

The pair of officers murdered in Iowa this week have only added to a total that has already far-outpaced the number of officers shot and killed during all of last year, CNN reported.

According to statistics released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in 2015, 41 police officers who died in the line of duty were shot and killed by criminals with firearms. In all, 123 officers died in the line of duty in 2015. But this year already, 52 officers have been shot and killed on the job, eleven more than all of last year.

Fortunately, it is not likely that 2016 will surpass the worst year this decade, 2011’s 73 officers shot and killed.

The statistics were released after two Des Moines officers were shot and killed as they sat in their respective squad cars. Murdered were Urbandale police Officer Justin Martin and Des Moines Sgt. Anthony Beminio, both shot within minutes of each other on November 2.

The officers were both killed by Urbandale resident Scott Michael Greene, authorities announced. Greene fired up to 20 shots at each of the officers.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.