Kim Hjelmgaard

USA TODAY

The ambush-style killings of two police officers in the Des Moines area add to a deadly increase in a disturbing trend for law enforcement nationwide: the number of police officers gunned down has increased 167% this year, according to a law enforcement group.

It ties for the deadliest year for such attacks, matching 2014's 16 ambush-style killings.

In all, there have now been 40 officers shot and killed in ambushes since 2014, said Steve Groeninger, spokesperson for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which tracks police fatalities.

Urbandale Police Officer Justin Martin and Des Moines police Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Beminio were the latest fatalities. Both were gunned down separately in their patrol cars while responding to reports of gunfire early Wednesday.

A total of 115 officers have been killed in the line of duty in 2016, a 15% increase over last year. Additionally, 52 of those officers were killed by gunfire, a 58% increase, the Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit reported.

Overall, more officers have been shot and killed so far this year than during any full year since 2011, according to the fund.

"All of these tragedies remind us in very stark terms that America’s law enforcement professionals are facing clear and growing dangers on our behalf. And, when our police officers are at risk, we are all at risk," Groeninger said.

An ambush is generally referred to as an attack that takes place by surprise or from a concealed position. Two other serious examples of such assaults this year include:

On July 7, Afghan War veteran Micah Xavier killed 5 officers and injured 9 more after ambushing police in Dallas.



On July 17, Gavin Eugene Long, who had an interest in black separatist issues, shot six officers, three of whom died, in Baton Rouge.

On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty in the U.S. every 61 hours and more than 20,000 police officers have lost their lives in the line of duty since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

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