Arkansas is now ranked number two in the country for police officer fatalities, according to a report released Thursday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
The mid-year report, a joint venture with the nonprofit Concerns of Police Survivors, shows that six Arkansas officers have been killed in the line of duty since January 2013. Traffic accidents, drownings and work-related illnesses all contributed to the deaths.
National statistics also indicate a nine-percent increase from 2012, with 51 officers dead as of June 30.
"In order to make it safe for officers on the job, they need to know what's going on in the community," said Communications Director Steve Groeninger.
California was ranked at number one with seven officer fatalities, followed by Arkansas, Louisiana (3) and Texas (4).
