We're five weeks into 2019, and already seven officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty across the US. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund reports that firearm-related deaths for officers are at the same rate right now as they were last year.
"Even one death is too many," Steve Groeninger, a spokesman for the NLEOMF told CNN. "Every number represents a shattered family, a shattered department, and a community that is grieving."
The parameters CNN followed in this count are:
• The officer was fatally shot this year
• The officer was on duty at the time of the shooting
February 6
Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner
Officer Rittner was shot and killed as he c arried out a search warrant for drug and gun sales on Milwaukee's south side.
February 4
Virginia State Trooper Lucas B. Dowell
Trooper Dowell was killed in a shootout while carrying out a drug-related search warrant just outside of Farmville, Virginia.
February 2
Clermont County (Ohio) Det. Bill Brewer
Det. Brewer was shot and killed during a 12-hour standoff with a suicidal man who had barricaded himself in an apartment outside of Cincinnati.
January 20
Mobile (Alabama) Police Officer Sean Tuder
Officer Tuder was shot and killed at a hotel as he led a team of officers searching for 19-year-old Marco Perez. Police have charged Perez with capital murder. WKRG reported Perez had also been accused of at least 18 car break-ins.
January 13
Birmingham (Alabama) Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter
Sgt. Carter was shot and killed outside of a bar and another officer was critically wounded as they responded to a report about car break-ins in the Mobile, Alabama, area.
January 10
Davis (California) Police Officer Natalie Corona
Officer Corona was shot and killed after re sponding to a triple car crash in the city of Davis.
January 5
Provo (Utah) Police Officer Joseph Shinners
Officer Shinners was
shot and killed
during an arrest attempt of a wanted fugitive. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that he was killed in a shootout in the parking lot of a Bed Bath & Beyond store while trying to arrest a man who skipped court hearings while on probation.
