The increase in the deaths of police officers in the line of duty is not new, yet it seems the numbers shock many Americans.

Police officer mortality is a polarizing issue today. Some people support the officers while others are completely against them. The death last May of Officer Kerrie Orozco has brought Omaha into that controversy. Orozco was the first officer in 10 years to die in the line of duty for Omaha police. Orozco’s death shocked the city and made many realize that the problem of police fatalities-faced around the country-was now at home in Omaha. While Orozco’s death brought the city together to support the police force, there was still hatred by some for those who served to protect cities.

Many people seem to be attempting to point to a rise in the number of police fatalities’. However, Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shows that deaths for those as police officers are down this year. According to the Associated Press, shooting deaths of officers are down from 30 deaths between January to September 2014 and 26 for this year’s term throughtout the United States. In 2000, the average was 29 deaths for the term nationwide.

Some deaths were targeted because they were police officers. According to U.S news six of the officer deaths this year were targeted. A recent call to the Aurora Police Department shows more cops being targeted. The caller alleged that he or she would be shooting at any police officers that were by themselves. The department shared this warning with other police forces in the surrounding areas. This is another example of how the riots, because of a few cases of police brutality, are causing officers fear while serving their community.

America seems to have become fixated on police-related fatalities of both officers and civilians throughout the country. This attention should remind people of just how dangerous the life of an officer truly is. In 2014, the fatal injury rate for police officers was 10.6 while the national average for other forms of employment was only 3.3 deaths that year. Those who choose to become officers know the risk that they are taking, yet they put themselves in the line of duty anyway.

In order to change the attitude toward police officers nationwide, those who support them need to speak up on their behalf. Often in movies and books, police officers are depicted as corrupt people who will get others in trouble to protect themselves. Little children are told that if they break the law they will go to jail and that police officers will punish them. This needs to change. People need to teach others that police officers are there to help you and keep you safe. The media may focus on those stories that paint the police in a bad light, but people need to remember that the police do a lot of good.

If people’ change their attitudes about police officers, we might see a decrease in the number of police-related killings because there may not be as much hostility and suspicion on both sides. This year, six officers lost their lives in the battle of hostilities, suspicions, and prejudices between those in the line of duty and civilians around the country. If the nation wants to see a change, then communities around the country need to be open to a new attitude of trust and acceptance of those who have chosen to protect them.