http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/24/authorities-fear-cops-targeted-officers-shot-hours/#






14 Officers have been killed in January alone. 10 of them were killed by gunfire this month, an increase of 40% from last year!!!!! This is crazy, absolutely crazy!!!

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Sounds pretty random to me. It's not like the police are being assassinated with no obvious interaction with people. Like, if they were being murdered in their homes, or clearly targeted while out on the town or whatever, then it would seem like some sort of conspiracy/targeting. This just seems random, they're stopping people on the road, trying to arrest them in various scenarios, and the people are freaking shooting them. Not great for the cops...but I wouldnt say there is anything significant about this grouping of shootings.

Line of duty deaths usually range around 150 per year, but that includes a wide range of causes. For this topic I'll also list those caused by gunfire in parenthesis, since that is the most obvious and typical way somebody tries to kill an officer with any forethought and malice.

2000 - 164 (50)
2001 - 242 (65)...total was bloated by 9/11 attack
2002 - 159 (57)
2003 - 148 (47)
2004 - 164 (55)
2005 - 165 (53)
2006 - 159 (51)
2007 - 197 (66)
2008 - 147 (40)
2009 - 128 (47)
2010 - 162 (59)

So far out of 14 this year 9 are due to gunfire. That would work out to about 196 (120), but that rate won't hold up. January has definitely been tough, but I'll hold off on any meaningful conclusions. One thing can be said though, most cop killers have been in prison for serious crimes and let out early. It's maddening to those in law enforcement.

It's the 25th. It's almost the end of the month.

Sorry.......that was funny

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We need to look at how criminal(or mentally ill) people are obtaining guns. Jk, but everyone was asking how Loughner was able to get a gun, and they were ready to point fingers. Truth is ANYONE can get their hands on a gun regardless. It's just more rhetoric. As for shot officers, I'll have to assume that they will shy away from contact if it gets too dangerous. I know I would. The ONLY people who can help protect them are our legislators, who bow down to lobbyists. Sad isn't it?

You add one more to the list. An Indy officer who was shot several days ago just succumbed to his injuries. There are also (at least) 8 more officers throughout the county who have been injured from gunfire. This includes four Detroit officers who were shot inside their police precinct.

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What a ridiculously terrible article.



Ok, they've just said that authorities are worried (and thus have reason to worry) that these 11 shootings around the country were not coincidence, ie, they were connected in some way. Purposefully planned.

Then:



WHAT! Criminals....trying to THWART AUTHORITY!!?? I WONT BELIEVE IT!! Not possible!

Then of course they go on to tell the totally scurry stat about how on january 25th 2011, there has already been as many officer deaths as in all of january 2010. What a complete joke, pretty much what I'd expect from fox. Why dont they just tell the details without alluding to something more sexy which they then go contradict later in the article, and never offer a shred of proof of ANYTHING. Retarded.

I agree the article was not well written but the I was just trying to get the gist of the article is that there has been a huge up swing of officers being shot this month. Eleven of them have been killed by gunfire which is up 83% from last January. That is abnormal but scary nonetheless.

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The police should go on strike until something is done about guns. There's no way I'm driving around in my cruiser through the hood listening to thugs mocking the law jamming, "catch me ridin dirty" after my friend and fellow officer was just gunned down. It's complete BS. You got an illegal handgun on ya, guess what pal, 10 years minimum. If you get caught throwing it under the seat, then you get the other guys years added on to yours. I think that would certainly reduce the amount of guns on the street in a hurry. Write me a catchy song about that one!

Here are some more stats why this was probably the most violent month for Cops, ever.

Since Jan 1, 2011, 53 officers have been shot at and 37 were hit. Fourteen were in a 36 hour period. Eleven officers have died and two remain in critical condition.

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I think "targeted" is a bit of a stretch. Maybe they're just not as good at 'ducking'? Or perhaps they forgot rule 17 (Zombieland reference - "Don't be a hero")

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