What the data shows

I apologize in advance for the messy formatting.  I just couldn't figure out how to fix it.

Most people have been conditioned to believe that data can always be manipulated to tell the story that you want to tell, and in some ways that is true.   So, if you choose to discard or disbelieve the data in this article, I'm fine with that.  But sometimes, I just need to say my piece.

Police Officer Deaths in the Line of Duty:

Causes of Law Enforcement Deaths

Over the Past Decade (2005-2014)

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Total
Aircraft Accident	2	3	3	3	4	2	1	3	1	0	22
Auto Crash	43	46	61	44	39	51	44	26	28	32	414
Beaten	0	1	0	1	0	2	2	2	0	0	8
Bicycle Accident	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3
Boating Accident	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	3
Bomb-Related Incident	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	1	0	4
Drowned	4	0	4	1	0	3	4	1	2	2	21
Electrocuted	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	3
Fall	4	0	3	0	0	1	4	4	6	0	22
Fire-Related Incident	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Horse-Related Accident	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
Job-Related Illness	24	21	20	24	18	21	20	11	16	18	193
Motorcycle Crash	5	11	10	9	3	6	5	8	5	6	68
Poisoned	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Shot	60	54	70	41	50	60	73	50	33	48	539
Stabbed	1	1	0	2	0	0	2	5	2	0	13
Strangled	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2
Struck by Falling Object	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Struck by Train	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	4
Struck by Vehicle	16	16	14	18	11	13	10	14	12	10	134
Terrorist Attack	1	1	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	8
TOTAL	163	156	192	148	125	161	171	126	107	117	1466

Civilian deaths at the hands of police:

Here’s How Many People Police Killed In 2015

BY DYLAN PETROHILOS DEC 28, 2015 2:59 PM

CREDIT: DYLAN PETROHILOS/THINKPROGRESS

We have a police problem in the United States.  While one death of a police officer in the line of duty is indeed one too many, I'm having a hard time with the idea that 1186 deaths of civilians is not one too many as well.

I truly believe that most police officers are good people who try every shift to serve and protect the public.  But something has gone awry.

I believe part of the problem is the proliferation of guns in America, and the glorification of the gun culture.  Shoot first, ask questions later.  Shoot, they may be armed.  Open carry, who can tell the good guys from the bad guys.

I also believe part of the problem is institutionalized racism.  #BlackLivesMatter.  This movement is necessary because too many people in America see brown or black skin and think that informs them about the person they are observing.

I know pointing out a problem without proposing a solution is just whining.

We need to fix this.  Every police officer should not approach every shift as if this is the day they will have to kill or be killed.  There is a huge difference between knowing when to use deadly force and using deadly force.

People of color should not have to fear for their and their children's lives every time they leave the house.

The police should be overwhelmingly viewed as part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Guns have a place, but they are out of control, and automatic and semi-automatic weapons should only be in the hands of the military.

Unfortunately, most of the response to the mess we are in is to shout at each other, instead of work together toward common sense solutions.

More people are afraid of terrorists than police, their family, or their neighbors; but in America, it is far more likely you will be killed by the police, or a family member, or a neighbor than a terrorist.

We all need to stop allowing ourselves to be whipped up emotionally to fear things that are not probable, and instead use that emotional energy to solve some of the real problems we face.

Yes, it will take money.  I'd rather pay more taxes for better trained police than continue to watch the carnage.

We need better education, and more jobs.  Working on America's crumbling infrastructure will go a long way to reducing poverty, and creating opportunity.

People need hope.  Education and jobs provide hope.  Police need training. We can fix this.  But enough of us have to care to fix it to get the process started.