Report: U.S. Law Enforcement Deaths Down in 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) - A nonprofit group is reporting that the number of law enforcement officers who died while performing their duties declined this year compared to 2011.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says 127 federal, state and local officers have died so far this year on the job. Cold Spring Police Officer Tom Decker was one of those killed in the line of duty this year. There were 165 deaths last year and 154 in 2010.

The organization says the majority of officers who died were either shot or were victims of traffic accidents. The number of firearms-related officer deaths also dropped, as did the number of traffic fatalities.

Texas had the highest number of deaths at 10, followed by Georgia with 8 deaths, and Colorado and Maryland with 6 each.

The memorial fund tallies deaths of officers and maintains a memorial wall in Washington honoring the fallen.