Nearly sixty officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty in 2016, which is a 65% jump in gunfire deaths, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Many say growing tensions across the country make wearing the badge more dangerous than ever, but every day officers continue to risk their lives to keep their communities safe.
In Appleton, Sgt. Matthew Peeters has patrolled the streets or worked in the evidence room for 16 years.
"This is the first job I had, I've spent my whole career here," he said.
He's never had a boring day on the job, he explained, as he drove through downtown Appleton.
"I've been on the downtown district for four years now," he said.
Sgt. Peeters, like all other Appleton officers, works a 12 hour shift. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., he runs into a variety of different incidents and crimes, he said.
On this November night, it's a traffic stop. A car doesn't have a license plate.
But the job isn't always that simple.
In Appleton, awareness of mental health problems in the Fox Valley has changed the way they police, said Sgt. Peeters.
"People are recognizing the role that it plays and that everything isn't necessarily criminal behavior," he explained.
That's something newer officer Matt Anderson has noticed in his three years on the job.
"The mental health piece is something that you really experience once you get into the job and something that you're not necessarily prepared for unless you get the proper training," Officer Anderson said.
Both officers said the Appleton Police Department provides ample training opportunities, including crisis intervention training, to learn how to handle and de-escalate certain situations.
In addition, they said the department promotes positive community interaction. The officers both said doing a little extra for those they serve can go a long way for community relations and making people feel safe.
Whether they've worn the badge for 16 years or 3, they said that effort to connect with the community makes the difference in Appleton.
