2021 proved to be the deadliest year on record for law enforcement, according to a new report by the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund. But it wasn’t due to shootouts or even traffic accidents.
The leading cop killer last year by far was COVID-19.
In all, 301 police officers succumbed to the coronavirus in 2021, a 65% increase over 2020 and a majority of all officer deaths. Additionally, numbers noted in the fund’s Law Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report showed seven states reporting at least seven officer deaths from COVID.
And it’s a problem that is expected to linger on into the new year. Muscogee County Sheriff Gregory Countryman of Georgia said he’s got 18 deputies currently infected.
“Not only are we fighting with the criminals, we’re also fighting with this virus that’s out there,” Countryman said.
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