On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 58 hours. In all, more than 19,000 American law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791.

Officers with the Smyrna Police Department in Delaware unanimously approved their first contract as members Local 326 last week, backing an agreement that raises their pay above that of other area law enforcement while reducing their health care costs.  The contract for the 25 officers also includes arbitration settlement language, the right to challenge discipline, lay off language, an upgrade in bullet-proof vests and a temporary work policy for injured employees.

Kittitas County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Thompson, a member of Local 760 in Yakima, Washington, was fatally shot Tuesday by a suspect who evaded a traffic stop. A second officer, Benito Chavez, was injured in the shooting and is in satisfactory condition. The suspect was shot and killed.