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2010 A Deadly Year For U.S. Police Officers

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- The year 2010 was a deadly year for police officers in the United States and here in Chicago.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding tells us, a new study offers some reasons why.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Michele Fiore Reports

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A police officer is killed every 53 hours somewhere in the country. In 2010, 61 police officers were killed by gunfire, compared to 49 in 2009.

A total of 73 officers were killed on the nation's roadways.

The report shows the number of on-duty police officer deaths rose by almost 40 percent this year, after a two-year decline.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund chairman Craig Floyd says part of the reason the numbers are up is that we are asking officers to do more with less.

"You've cut training dollars. You've cut equipment dollars. You're going to put officers at risk, and ultimately, you're going to put public safety at risk," Floyd said.

Six Chicago Police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2010:
--Sgt. Alan Haymaker was killed when he lost control of his squad car on Lake Shore Drive while responding to a call of a burglary in progress on Feb. 22.
--Officer Thomas Wortham IV was shot and killed in a robbery near his parents' home in the 8400 block of South King Drive on May 20.
--Officer Thor Soderberg was shot and killed as he walked to his car at the end of a shift at the police facility at 61st Street and Racine Avenue on July 7.
--Officer Michael Bailey was shot and killed while cleaning out his car at his home near 74th Street and Evans Avenue on July 18.
--Officer David Blake was shot and killed in his personal vehicle in the 2900 block of West Seipp Street on Nov. 25.
--Officer Michael Flisk was shot and killed as he investigated a burglary in a garage behind the 8100 block of South Burnham Avenue on Nov. 26. Also killed in the shooting was retired Chicago Housing Authority police officer Stephen Peters.

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