The 1920s was one of the deadliest decades in U.S....

February 6th, 2012

The 1920s was one of the deadliest decades in U.S. law enforcement history, with an average of almost 229 police officers killed annually, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The violence paralleled Prohibition and the rise of bootleggers and gangsters, who often outgunned police. More police died in Chicago than anywhere else in the country. The crime and violence gave rise to greater cooperation between federal law enforcement, led by the FBI, and state and local police. The deadliest year was 1930, when 285 police officers were killed.

Learn more flashpoints of urban violence in our Timeline.

Photo via Library of Congress

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