Until recently, violent deaths of Police Officers was on a rise in the United states.

In 2015 there were 86 police who were killed in the line of duty.  41 of those deaths were due to criminal gunfire.

In 2016  that number ROSE to 135 deaths, a 36% increase from 2015, and 66 of those killed were shot and killed. That is a 53% increase in the number of deaths by criminal gunfire.

But thanks in part to programs like Vest – A – Cop, which is held annually by the Toms River PBA, those numbers are finally on a decline. According to data released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, only 128 officers died in the line of duty in 2017 and only 44 of them were shot. That’s a 10% decrease from the previous year.

2017’s 27th annual Vest-A-Cop event was the most successful so far according to the Toms River Police Department. The officers had fun serving the community while helping to ensure that officers were safe on the street.

So please join the Toms River PBA at Pizza Hut (211 Route 37 E, Toms River, New Jersey 08753) on Monday September 24th from 4pm to 9pm for fun, games, face painting, bounce houses, Fire Trucks and meet the officers that keep you safe every day while helping to keep them safe. All tips collected during this event will go to the PBA’s Bullet Proof Vest Fund, and the kids will have a blast!