Being a police officer is dangerous work, but this year has been particularly deadly.
 

2010 has seen a 37% jump in officer deaths, and the economy could be a factor.
 

And Tuesday night, an all too familiar scene played out in Arlington, Texas. An officer answers a disturbance call and is shot by one of the participants,
 

In all, over 160 law enforcement personnel have died in the line of duty this year, up from only 117 in 2009.
 

And sadly, Texas leads the nation with 19 dead in 2010 making it the third year in a row that our state is in the top five, along with Florida and California.
 

While 73 officers died nationwide in traffic accidents, there has been a spike in shooting deaths. 59 federal, state and local officers were killed by gunfire in 2010, a 20% increase from 2009.
 

Ironically, the traffic accidents may be due to an issue civilians are warned about…distracted driving.
 

The economy may be partially to blame, Not only for the increase in crime but making departments shorthanded as hiring is frozen and money is tight.
 

No local officers died this year, but we all remember the shock felt around our area with the deaths of Constable Dale Geddie in 2006 and two deputies in Henderson County in 2007.
 

More brave officers, more final salutes, and more names on the peace officer’s memorial.