Six Maryland Law Enforcement Officers Died In 2012

A Prince George's County police officer who died when his car crashed while chasing a suspect is among six law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in Maryland in 2012.

Officer Adrian Morris died in August when his police cruiser ran off the highway and crashed. Just two months later, Officer Kevin Bowden, also of the Prince George's County Police Department , died after his cruiser hit a utility pole.

Morris and Bowden are among 127 federal, state and local officers who have died from injuries suffered on the job this year. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says that number reflects a 20 percent decline after a rise in numbers during the two previous years.

While the decline is positive news, Steve Groeninger, a Fund spokesperson, says, "That's 127 officer families and networks and communities that will be torn apart by the loss of these police officers."

Figures show the majority of officers who died were either shot or were victims of traffic accidents. The organization maintains a memorial wall in Washington bearing the names of fallen officers. Sharon Rae