If it was a defensive measure, why did we lose 55 officers nation-wide last year to gun violence
It was 48, not 55.
48 out of the hundreds of thousands of cops of all types out there, make it not even into the top ten of most dangerous jobs.
That is also a record for the lowest number of cops shot in decades, or since records were kept, depending on whose source you want to believe.
And as of this time compared to this time last year: 6 total shot cops,
which is 40 percent less than last year, which was a record low.
http://www.odmp.org/search/year?year=2012
Never has it been safer to be a cop, yet guns sales are through the roof.
They have no problem blowing us away though.
2009:
2009‑12‑31 Smith, Adam J. Washington (Bothell) Shot after refusing to drop a screwdriver that was recently used to stab another man in the face. Police were responding to report of domestic violence.[2][3]
2009-12-21 Crable, David Washington (Eatonville) Shot after shooting and injuring deputies. Officers were responding to report of a domestic disturbance. One deputy later died of injuries.[4]
2009-12-19 Vu, John C. (41) Washington (Lacey) Shot in the rear torso while attempting to flee a house surrounded by Thurston County deputies. The deputies were attempting to effect a warrant for Mr. Vu's arrest on second-degree murder charges.[5]
2009-12-19 unnamed male Washington (Des Moines) Shot after pointing gun at police. Police were approaching man as prime suspect in recent report of domestic violence involving a gun.[6]
2009-12-13 Morales, Nicholas Alvarado Colorado (Denver) Officer responding to "shots fired" call, spotted Morales with the spotlight on his patrol car. Morales turned and pointed his gun at the officer. The officer fired five shots, fatally wounding Morales.[7]
2009-12-07 Reuter, Brandon Michael California (Redding) Shot after threatening police with gun, that turned out to be a BB gun that looked like a 9mm handgun. When shot a police dog had a hold on Reuter. He was being pursued for having stolen $3000 from a bank at gunpoint.[8]
2009-12-01 Clemmons, Maurice Washington (Lakewood) Shot after refusing commands to stop and after reaching into waist area. Clemmons was the prime suspect in a recent killing of four police officers.[9]
2009-11-17 Nestor, Michael C Georgia (Augusta) Shot while backing vehicle towards officers. Nestor was wanted a on drugs possession warrant. Police approached Nestor at his home while loading possessions into his vehicle in an apparent attempt to flee.[10]
2009-11-14 Gastin, Bradley Georgia (Macon) Shot after attempting to run over police in stolen vehicle. Officers were pursuing the vehicle after a report of a recent carjacking.[11]
2009-11-12 Ramsey, Terry Georgia (Richmond County) Shot after refusing to put down the knife Ramsey was holding to the throat of his estranged wife. Police were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance.[12]
2009-11-06 Pierce, Chad Georgia (Arlington) Shot while reaching towards glove box. Pierce had led officers on a high speed, 20 mile chase that ended with Pierce crashing his vehicle into a ditch. No weapon was found in vehicle.[13]
2009-11-03 Hawkins, Landris (28) Arkansas (Little Rock) Shot to death by police after making "a threatening move." Hawkins had allegedly used a kitchen knife to cut himself and his grandmother, who officers say he would not let out of the house when they arrived. The man had a history of mental illness, according to police and family members.[14]
2009-11-01 LaBossiere, John Washington (Lake Stevens) Shot during confrontation with police. Officer was responding to report of armed man forcing entry into home where LaBossiere's estranged wife was staying.[15]
2009-10-28 Abdullah, Luqman Ameen (aka Thomas, Christopher) Michigan (Dearborn) Shot 21 times during FBI raid on Dearborn warehouse.[16]
2009-10-23 Riggins, Sara Georgia (Albany) Shot as officers responded to a domestic disturbance.[17]
2009-10-19 unnamed male Georgia (Austell) Shot while attempting to run over deputies with vehicle. Police were responding to report of a suspicious person climbing a fence. When the deputies approached the man in his car and ordered him to get out, he drove towards one of the deputies.[18]
2009-10-11 Bentley, Dartanya Jr
unnamed person Georgia (Rincon) Died from injuries in motor vehicle accident after fleeing vehicle ran over spike strips placed in road by deputy. Bentley was originally stopped for speeding, but fled in vehicle when asked for his driver's license. As high speed chase ensued. After running over the spikes Bentley and his passenger died in the accident that also injured a person in a different vehicle.[19]
2009-10-11 Davis, Erik Von Georgia (Stockbridge) Shot after striking officer in the neck with a hammer. Police were responding to the sounds of shouting. Davis was in the doorway of a home “yelling all sorts of crazy things.” [20]
2009-09-19 Hysaw, Katherine Arizona (Phoenix) Officers were responding to calls of Hysaw threatening her neighbors with a knife. When they entered her apartment, Hysaw started throwing bottles at them. Officers attempted to use a taser, but missed. Hysaw then attacked one of the officers with a butcher's knife. After 2 rubber bullets failed to stop her, one of the officers fired 2 rounds from his rifle. Hysaw died at the scene.[21]
2009-09-15 Villareal, Christopher Washington (Richland) Shot after attempting to ram a police officer on a motorcycle with his car. Police were pursuing Villareal for erratic driving.[22]
2009-09-10 Jason Williams (32) Washington (Seattle) Shot after pulling out a toy/replica gun. Deputies confronted two men as prime suspects in recent robbery of a credit union. The second man was Tasered and arrested.[23][24]
2009-09-10 unnamed male Georgia (St Simons Island) Shot after threatening to kill police with high powered rifle. SWAT team had responded to report that the man had barricaded himself in his house with a gun after code enforcement officers informed him he had too many signs in front of his house.[25]
2009-09-04 unnamed male Washington (Federal Wal) Shot after threatening to kill officers during confrontation with police. Officers contacted the man while searching for a suspect in a bank robbery earlier in the day.[26]
2009-09-02 Ayers, Jonathan Georgia (Toccoa) Shot after reversing vehicle into an officer. Undercover police had approached Ayers as part of an investigation into drugs and prostitution.[27]
2009-08-15 Burkett, Joseph Leonard Washington (Olympia) Shot after pulling out gun and not allowing police to take it from him. Burkett was in the emergency room of a hospital being treated for a head injury. Police were called in when Burkett became agitated. The officers confiscated two guns from Burkett and remained while he was treated.[28]
2009-08-10 Naranjo, Brian Christopher Colorado (Longmont) Shot after pointing handgun at officers. Police had stopped Naranjo on a routine traffic stop when it was discovered Naranjo had an outstanding arrest warrant and fled in his vehicle. A high speed chase ended with a police car ramming Naranjo's vehicle.[29]
2009-08-06 Larson, Shawn Washington (Lake Stevens) Shot after fighting with deputy at truck scales. Larson had been pulled over for driving erratically.[2][30]
2009-07-21 Schwartz, Penny
Baker, Barbara Georgia (Duluth) Shot after Schwartz confronted officer with a handgun. A single officer responded to a Baker's report of a suicidal person. Baker was shot by accident.[31]
2009-07-10 Poss, Jason Washington (Spokane) Shot after refusing orders to drop knife and threatening officers with the knife. Police approached Poss as the primary suspect in two recent reports of assault and home breakins.[32]
2009-07-10 Player, Jr., Woodrow California [33]
2009-07-07 Pebles, John Washington (Bellevue) Shot after attacking officer with a knife. Police were responding to a report of domestic disturbance.[34]
2009-07-04 Slater, James L., Jr Washington (Woodinville) Shot while holding knife. Deputies were investigating report of domestic disturbance.[35]
2009-07-02 Esparza, Hector Colorado (Denver) Police were responding to a family disturbance, in which Esparza has attacked his step-father. Esparza was in a bedroom, and claiming to be armed with a gun. Esparza suddenly exited the bedroom and raised a gun towards two officers. Officers immediately fired and killed Esparza.[36]
2009-07-02 Monnie, Dwight Washington (Arlington) Shot by deputy responding to a domestic violence call.[2]
2009-06-24 unnamed male Georgia (Fort Oglethorpe) Shot after shooting a police office in bullet-proof vest. The man was resisting arrest in a restaurant parking lot.[37]
2009-06-18 McCoy Jr., Lawrence Florida [38]
2009-06-14 Shehada, Husien Florida [38]
2009-06-10 Meservey, Niles (51) Washington (Everett) Meservey was shot to death by Officer Troy Meade while sitting in his car outside a hotel. In October 2009, Meade was charged with first-degree manslaughter.[2]
2009-06-10 Velarde, Eugene Paul Colorado (Denver) Velarde was shot when he pointed a pistol at a pursuing officer during a foot chase. Velarde had earlier lead the officer in a car chase ending when Velarde struck the unmarked police vehicle.[39]
2009-06-08 Wiggs, David LeRoy Colorado (Pueblo) Shot while holding handgun. Police were approaching Wiggs related to arrest warrants for felony sexual assault.[40]
2009-05-30 Bass, Darrell B. Washington (Covington) Shot after aiming a rifle at a sheriff's helicopter during standoff. Police were responding to report of Bass's threat to ignite a 250-pound fertilizer bomb in his residence. No explosives were found in the home.[41]
2009-05-29 Wasilchen, Daniel Washington (Grante Falls) Shot by deputies after getting into an argument with a state noxious-weed expert inspecting Wasilchen's property.[2]
2009-05-24 Kepler, Howard Blair Colorado (Broomfield) Shot after killing wife and during shootout with police. Police were responding to report of domestic disturbance.[42]
2009-05-06 Curtis Wetzel (37) Washington (Lakewood) Shot by one of five officers responding to reports of a drunken man assaulting his wife. Police claim Mr. Wetzel refused orders to drop a knife and approached to within 17 feet of the officers.[43][44]
2009-04-27 unnamed male Georgia (Decatur) Shot after attempting to assault officer with a knife. Police were responding to screams inside an apartment.[45]
2009-04-27 Kenneth Woodham (57) Washington (Parkland) Shot by Pierce County deputy responding to 911 call by Mr. Woodham's wife reporting him having been drinking and screaming at her and her mother.[46]
2009-04-20 Weinstein, Sheldon Maine (Warren) Convicted child molester and type 1 diabetic, confined to a wheelchair, died of blunt force injuries after allegedly being beaten inside the Warren prison by fellow inmates.[47]
2009-04-17 Bastos, Jairo Georgia (Roswell) Shot after attempting to run over a police officer. Police were responding to a report of abduction of two children who were in the vehicle.[48]
2009-04-10 Kim, Susie California (Santa Ana) Shot after a pursuit. Police were pursuing Kim for a traffic violation; Kim was found under the influence of alcohol and cocaine with her 18-month old daughter in the car.[49]
2009-03-21 Mixon, Lovelle California (Oakland) 2009 shootings of Oakland police officers
2009-03-17 Longest, Johnnie L Washington (Spokane) Shot after shooting police dog. Police were tracking suspect on foot with police dog after man's vehicle crashed during police chase. Officers were attempting to pull over man for reckless driving.[50]
2009-02-26 Reagor, Davlon Royall Colorado (Denver) Shot while attempting to run over officer after a car chase.[51]
2009-02-07 Munoz, Philip Colorado (Florence) Died of apparent heart failure. Munoz had fled from police in a stolen garbage truck. Once stopped a Taser was used on him multiple times. Coroner reported “massive” amounts of cocaine in Munoz's system.[52]
2009-01-20 Lewis, Clayton Georgia (Albany) Shot after retrieving handgun from console of his car. Police had stopped Lewis regarding suspected drug activity. As Lewis began to flee in his vehicle an officer dove into the backseat of the car. The officer shot Lewis when Lewis retrieved the gun.[53]
2009-01-14 Joseph Bernerd Hradec (37) Washington (Seattle) Shot after spraying officers with a chemical irritant and threatening officers with a knife. Police were responding to a 911 call for help at a motel.[54][55][56]
2009-01-01 Murphy, Miles Washington (Seattle) Shot after pointing rifle with bayonet at police and refusing commands to drop weapon. Murphy was dressed in World War II-period German uniform and was holding a World War II-era German rifle. Police were responding to reports of gunfire on New Year's Eve which turned out to be blank rounds fired from the rifle.[57]