Tonight police in Iowa continue their investigation into the death of two officers while mourning their loss. Investigators say two officers were ambushed and killed in two separate attacks overnight. The man police say pulled the trigger is Scott Michael Greene. That man surrendered to officers after more than 9-hours on the run. Investigators say right now they don't have any evidence that clearly points to a motive in the murders.
That incident makes three members of law enforcement from the mid-west who were gunned down and killed on the clock in just the last five days. One deputy from right here in Wisconsin was killed just on Sunday after he responded to a routine call and was shot as well. Today NBC26 spoke with local police about the alarming trend of assaults on officers.
So far this year 112 officers have been killed in the line of duty here in the US. It's a number that doesn't escape those in the profession.
On Tuesday two officers were allegedly ambushed and gunned down in central Iowa while they waited in their squads for someone else's distress call.
"To know that officers are killed simply because what they choose to do for work in their community is really disheartening," says Capt. Todd Freeman of the Appleton Police.
And just days earlier in Rusk County, Wisconsin a deputy on a routine call, was shot and killed when he arrived on scene of a call of his own.
"We always want to say that that's not gonna happen here, but it certainly does," adds Jason Weber of the Fox Crossing Police Department.
These types of incidents are becoming more common place in police work according to sources like officer down memorial page dot org.
"It certainly does weigh in the back of officers minds you know," adds Weber.
Just this year it's estimated that 48 officers were shot and killed on the clock. That's a 55 percent increase from 2015.
"We're not talking responding to violent instances. We’re not talking going to bank robberies or traffic stops. Just simply the act of wearing a uniform has gotten more officers killed this year then we've seen recently," adds Capt. Freeman.
And while statistics will tell us the job is getting more dangerous for law enforcement across the board. Those who wear the badge will continue suiting up, trying to keep our communities safe.
"We're not really different than anyone else. We have a job to do," says Weber.
