The FBI has released the stats on 2008's assaults on law enforcement personnel in the United States of America. 58,792 officers were assaulted while on duty... last year.

In many ways this is the official, yet unreported, war that goes on 24/7 in our own land.

Every day, when your law enforcement officer goes to "work" he/she straps on a weapon... is prepared to use it... and walks out onto a battle field where nothing less than life and death is at stake... every day.

FBI release

FBI Releases 2008 Statistics on Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted

According to information released today by the FBI, 41 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty last year; 68 officers died in accidents while performing their duties; and 58,792 officers were assaulted while on duty....

Felonious Deaths

The 41 felonious line-of-duty deaths took place during 38 separate incidents. All 38 incidents have been cleared by arrest or exceptional means.....

Circumstances: Of the 41 officers feloniously killed, 9 of the slain officers were involved in arrest situations; 8 were performing traffic stops; 7 were investigating suspicious persons/circumstances; 7 were involved in tactical situations (e.g., high-risk entry); 6 were ambushed; 2 were performing investigative duties; 1 was handling, transporting, or maintaining custody of a prisoner; and 1 was answering a disturbance call.

Weapons: Offenders used firearms to kill 35 of the 41 victim officers. Of these 35 officers, 25 were slain with handguns, 6 with rifles, and 4 with shotguns. Four officers were killed with vehicles that were used as weapons, and 2 officers died from injuries as a result of a bomb....

Accidental Deaths

Of the 68 law enforcement officers killed in accidents while performing their duties in 2008, the majority of officers accidentally killed (39 officers) were the result of automobile accidents....

Assaults

In 2008, 10,110 law enforcement agencies reported that 58,792 officers were assaulted while performing their duties. Of the officers assaulted in 2008, 26.1 percent were injured. The largest percentage of victim officers (32.0) were assaulted while responding to disturbance calls (family quarrels, bar fights, etc.). Assailants used personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.) in 80.7 percent of the incidents, firearms in 3.8 percent of incidents, and knives or other cutting instruments were used in 1.6 percent of the incidents. Other types of weapons were used in 13.9 percent of assaults....

"Lord YahShua, you said blessed are the peacemakers. Please, protect our peacemakers along with your blessing."

xtnyoda, shalomed