Texas leads the nation in 2019 line of duty deaths

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - 60 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty nationwide this year, down 35 percent from last year, according to the latest report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Even though the numbers are on the decline nationwide, Texas remains number one for the most line-of-duty deaths sitting at six so far this year. 

The head of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) said unfortunately, he was not surprised to see Texas in the lead.

"It's such a big geographic area,” CLEAT executive director Charley Wilkinson said. “Over 2,000 officers have been killed in the line of duty. So we are always the top state historically.”

Although the numbers are down from this time last year, he believes one officer down is too many.

“We're glad to hear it but it doesn't change the families,” Wilkinson said. “There will always be that empty chair, that person who will be gone forever.”

Firearm-related injuries are the leading cause of death so far this year.