The killing of Sacramento Sheriff's Detective Vu Nguyen last week brings home an alarming trend being seen across the country: 2007 has been among the deadliest years for law enforcement officers in the past two decades.
Dating back to 1989, only 2001 saw more law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty than this year, according to figures to be released today by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which tracks line of duty fatalities. The 2001 numbers included 72 officers killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Not only are more officers being killed in the line of duty, more are being killed with guns, figures show. Nguyen was the 69th officer shot and killed in the line of duty this year, a 33 percent increase over the number of officers felled by gunfire last year and the highest total since 72 were shot in 2001, figures show.
Nguyen, the 186th officer who died in the line of duty this year, will be remembered at an 11 a.m. funeral today at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento.
Those who track law enforcement deaths say it is difficult to explain the sharp increase in fatalities but speculate increased violent crime in many U.S. cities and aggressive anti-gang tactics being used by several departments are contributors.
"If there is more crime in a community, there will be more situations where our officers are placed in harm's way," said Kevin Morison of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. "There is also the idea that officers are being more assertive in going after violent criminals, a trend being driven by an increase in violent crime."
Nguyen, a detective with his department's gang unit, was on the kind of patrol that has become the foundation for the Sacramento region's battle against street gangs when he was killed Dec. 19.
Nguyen and his partner were contacting suspected gang members in south Sacramento when they spotted a suspicious-looking young man near 42nd Avenue and 37th Street, sheriff's officials said. The young man suddenly ran into a backyard and Nguyen followed.
Seconds later, Nguyen's partner heard multiple gunshots. He hopped a fence and discovered his partner suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to his neck.
Jimmy Siackasorn, 16, has been charged as an adult in Nguyen's death.
"The statistics prove out something that our officers face everyday when they go to work: the fact that this is a dangerous job and they put their lives on the line everyday," said Sacramento Sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran. "It's a commitment they have to the community."
A steady stream of family members, sheriff's deputies and members of the public filed into the East Lawn Mortuary on Wednesday to pay their respects to Nguyen at a public viewing. As mourners knelt before Nguyen's flag-draped coffin, classical music played softly in the chamber. Two deputies – one holding back tears – stood guard at the mortuary's front door.
That scene will be played out on a larger scale at Nguyen's funeral today. Hundreds of officers from across the state and country are expected to attend the service, and those attending the services are expected to reach into the thousands. Members of the public can view the funeral through a live video feed at the Sacramento Convention Center at 1400 J St.
Officials expect heavy traffic congestion resulting from a procession to escort Nguyen's family to East Lawn Memorial Park following the funeral, but police said they have been met with overwhelming support from the community.
On Christmas Day, rookie Sacramento Officer Karl Chan was handing out fliers in east Sacramento urging patience from residents whose streets will likely be filled by parked cars. As he made his way up 41st Street around 7:30 a.m., Chan was met by a young girl who wanted to help hand out the fliers.
"It's always nice when little kids come up and talk to you and want to help," said Chan, who has been with the department seven months. "The support we've received is tremendous."
Call The Bee's Ryan Lillis, (916) 321-1085.
