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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

1 Washington police officer killed in 2014

Law enforcement fatalities rose in 2014, but only one Washington officer was killed in the line of duty this year, according to a report released Tuesday by the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Wapato Police Officer Derek Hansen died March 8 from blood clots that entered his lungs. According to reports by the Yakima Herald-Republic, the coroner linked his death to a shoulder injury Hansen sustained in 2011 while struggling with a suspect who resisted arrest. His death was ruled a homicide.

Nationally, 126 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty last year, versus just 102 in 2013. That was the lowest number of officer fatalities since 1944.



Rachel Alexander
Rachel Alexander came to the Spokesman-Review in 2014 after working for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. She covers social services, health and science for the City Desk and writes a monthly data-focused column, Know Spokane.

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