Feed: State of the Union: The forgotten heroes - AggScore: 13.0

State of the Union: The forgotten heroes

---

caption id alignalignleft width210 captionThe speech was light on substance, claim many observers. Photo WH Press Office img srchttpcdn2b.examiner.comsitesdefaultfilesstyleslargehashcecbcecb68bee3c564f41fd6b7e1aaea1249.jpg alt width210 height139 captionThe news media and Washingtonestablishmentare all abuzz todayover President Barack Obamas muchanticipatedState of the Union speechlast nighton national television.The big newsstories so far are Obamas socalled move to the center of the political spectrum, and the fact that many Republican and Democrat lawmakerswere sitting togetherand giving the TV newscameras a taste of politicalKumbaya. Unfortunately, neither news story will likelyhave any impact on the United States or the American people.During his speech, President Obama made certain to mention the shooting of Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Gabby Giffords and gave a hattip to one of the heroes of the Tucson shooting spree that left shocked the nation.However, what was missing from Obamas flowery but convoluted speech was any mention of the more than two dozen police fatalities and numerous law enforcement casualties, said former NYPD detective Mike Snopes. Did anyone in the White House think about inviting the families of fallen officers to the State of the UnionWere seeing a disturbing trend in the United States an increase in the number of police killed or wounded across the country. And this trend wasnt mentioned once during the Presidents speech. When it came to knocking police during a speech, Obama ridiculed the Cambridge, MA Police Department without knowing all the facts a snafu that ended up becoming a photoop White House beer party, Snopes said.This past weekhas been especiallydeadly for law enforcement across the nationwith 11 officers shot in five states Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington.As of yesterday, 14 law enforcement officer fatalities have been recorded across eight states, with multiple deaths in Florida 5, Texas 2, and Ohio 2. Florida and Texas were among the top five states leading officer deaths in 2010 along with California, Illinois, and Georgia, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The devastating spike in law enforcement officer fatalities in 2010 has tragically continued in the first month of 2011, said National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Chairman amp CEO Craig W. Floyd.I have never seen anything like it. The violent events of the past 24 hours in Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Oregon and Washington have been detrimental to Americas peace officers, taking the lives of two and injuring several others. We must do everything in our power to stop these senseless and heinous crimes against our law enforcement personnel, he said.On Monday, three officers were shot two fatally wounded, and one injured while serving an aggravated battery warrant at a St. Petersburg, FL, home. On Sunday, four officers were shot at a Detroit, MI, police precinct two Kitsap County, WA, Sheriffs Deputies were shot at a WalMart while responding to a call reporting a suspicious person and police officers in both Indianapolis, IN, and Lincoln City, OR, were critically injured in shootings during traffic stops.The incidents involving police officers killed or wounded continue to be studied and many of these incident have contributing factors that need to be addressed, said Chief George Vulleunier, president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.Weve sent out bulletins, for example, that list The Ten Fatal Errors that have killed experienced lawmen, he added.emThe following nine officers are the most recent gunfirerelated fatalitiesemul typediscliemClark County OH Sheriffs Deputy Suzanne Hopper was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call at a mobile home park on New Years Day. emliliemRainier OR Police Chief Ralph Painter was killed by a fatal gunshot wound to the head on January 5, 2011 while responding to a call reporting a car theft at a strip mall. emliliemBaltimore City MD Police Officer William H. Torbit, Jr. was fatally shot during an altercation outside a night club on January 9, 2011. emliliemLakewood NJ Patrolman Christopher Matlosz was shot and killed as he approached a suspect while patrolling a residential area on January 14, 2011. emliliemLivonia MI Officer Larry Nehasil was fatally wounded by a burglary suspect during a shootout on January 17, 2011. emliliemMiamiDade FL Officers Roger Castillo and Amanda Haworth were fatally shot as they attempted to serve a murder warrant at a Miami, Florida home on January 20, 2011. emliliemSt. Petersburg FL Sergeant Tom Baitinger and Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz were gunned down and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on January 24, 2011. A U.S. Marshal was also wounded but is in stable condition. emliul