LITTLE ROCK, Ark (KTHV) -- Wednesday's shooting of a Trumann police officer comes amid a recent spike nationwide in police officers being gunned down in the line of duty.
Just this week CBS News reported there have been more than two dozen officers killed on the job so far this year. And while we haven't seen any local outcomes like that lately, officers here still brace for harm's way every day.
In 16 years with the Jacksonville Police Department, Lt. Thomas Mayberry knows well that danger comes the job.
"During the 16 years, literally hundreds of times; pursuits to armed individuals with knives, guns, barricaded suspects," Mayberry said.
It all arrives with no warning, forcing the Mayberry many times to pull his gun but never firing or being fired on.
"You've been able to subdue them, get them to surrender?" THV's Max Seigle asks.
"So far every time yes," Mayberry said.
It's lucky record but not so lucky for 26 police officers nationwide killed in the line of the duty so far this year. CBS News reports that's 44 percent more than the 18 officers killed by last year at this time.
"Just coming to work places you in harms way. It may not occur that day but you don't have a crystal ball. You come to work prepared for it being that day,"Mayberry said.
That preparation comes from officer training throughout the year that's reinforced every day here in the department during shift briefings.
"It maybe how to search individuals in particular way or how the officers can take a position that will give them a tactical advantage to reduce the likelihood of a lethal encounter," Mayberry said.
Mayberry adds teamwork and winning attitudes when danger strikes.
"Second place is the first loser," Mayberry said.
And knowing all the time that "the bottom line is most of the people we are dealing with are criminals with a criminal lifestyle with no respect for the rules of society," Mayberry said.
Mayberry adds other factors driving the national police killings could be stress from the tough economy and growing anti- government resentment.
He says Jacksonville has seen a big drop in major crimes over the past year but you can never be prepared.
Jacksonville is like most other police departments in the state, undergoing similar training for potentially deadly encounters.