The Anoka County Law Enforcement community stopped this week to reflect on the 'thin blue line' and remember officers killed in the line of duty.  

Law enforcement officers gathered to remember seven fallen officers who died in the line of duty in Anoka County since 1947.  The Fridley police chief read off the names of all the officers while family members placed a rose in honor of their loved one on a wreath.

"One law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty every 58 hours," says Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart.  "Today we gather to remember their service and their sacrifice.  In 2017, according to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, 129 officers died in the line of duty, decreasing 10% over the 143 officers killed in the line of duty in 2016."

The sheriff also mentioned that the mental health of officers is an area that's often overlooked and something they're trying to work to improve.  While 129 officers died in the line of duty last year in the U.S., another 140 officers took their own lives.