One more police officer was shot to death this week, raising the number to 16 this year, and still President Obama hasn't mentioned the slayings or reached out to the victims, according to law enforcement.

Virginia State Trooper Chad Phillip Dermyer, 37, was killed Thursday at a Richmond bus station. Richmond is less than two hours from the White House.

Our thoughts are with @VSPPIO and the family/friends of Chad Dermyer who lost his life yesterday. #LODD https://t.co/wZLcryXzPC — ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) April 1, 2016

There has been an outpouring of support and prayers for Dermyer, but no action by the White House, said law enforcement officials. The Secret Service and ATF tweeted notes of support and prayer.

Today, Saturday, here will be a rally in Washington for at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in support of police. Organizer Kelly Wince, president and cofounder of United For Blue, said the administration hasn't indicated it plans to be there.



"We do not anticipate anything from our administration. Tomorrow wouldn't be any different than any other day," said Wince Friday.

The lack of support is sure to exacerbate the ill-will between police and the administration, first raised by a Maryland sheriff and later endorsed by several police organizations. Police have taken note at how the president sometimes voices support for those killed by police, but not the police killed on duty.

The Secret Service is praying for the family and friends of fallen Virginia State Trooper Chad Dermyer. pic.twitter.com/oBdruhaGHO — U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 1, 2016

Just two weeks ago, that Maryland official, Carroll County, Md., Sheriff James T. DeWees, told Secrets, "He has a microphone in his face almost every moment he's awake, and has unprecedented access to the media. He could certainly take a moment to acknowledge these events and give us the same support he provides those that attack and kill us."

Since that story ran, five more police have been killed in the line of duty, two by guns.

After our story ran, Richard W. Stanek, sheriff of Hennepin County, Minn., told Secrets, "There are over one million sworn officers across the United States – local, state, and federal. We are keenly aware each and every time an officer is killed in the line of duty. Every one of these deaths serves as a reminder to each of us, to our families, and to the residents of our communities, of the dangers of our profession and the commitment all officers make to public service. The president's silence is reverberating through the law enforcement community."

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com