A couple things:
First, it looks like your data is incorrect. There were 116 Law Enforcement Deaths in 2009. 49 by gunshot.41 by Auto/Motorcycle Accident, 10 Struck by Vehicle. (Source:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund ). Of course, that probably included ALL law enforcement branches, and your figures may be limited to Police Departments.
Second, I know it sounds rather cold, but I find those numbers (both yours and mine) to be incredibly low. So low that I do not believe that it justifies the mashing of innnocent peoples' skulls between floorboards and gun muzzles. I respect the difficulty and danger of their jobs, but they need to stop looking at the world as though everyone is out to kill all cops on sight. An arrest warrent is not a license to abuse people, and they should have the self control to treat subjects humanely.
According to the
same site, a total of ~19,000 law enforcement officer have died in the line of duty IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY of the United States. This includes all causes of death, not just intentional attempts on their lives.
And
this article does an interesting job of showing how the figures going the other way are rather lopsided:
About 9,500 people nationally were killed by police during the years 1980 to 2005–an average of nearly one fatal shooting per day.
And the failure to address unjustified shootings frankly is likely to lead both to greater community distrust of police and an increased probability that the hostile interactions that often precede the shootings will continue.