17 Police Officers have already been killed in 2018 and it’s only the first month of the year. Justin Billa from Alabama was the latest officer to give his life on duty and that is way too many. What is bizarre is this currently less then last year where 20 officers died in the same period. We need to develop better protocols between officers and suspects as well as to insure they are more protected against those that would do them harm. Whether it means arming these officers when they are involved in a shootout with military style equipment or waiting even longer to lesson harm to them and others new steps must be taken. One Police Officer’s death is too many and 17 should be the wake up call that something needs to change immediately.