part of a grim nationwide trend. 56% spike in officers shot and killed, according to new data, 64 officers gunned down in the line of duty this year, 21 of those slain in ambushes. do you worry about him when he was on the job? of course, you know, as a family, we all worry about our loved ones. especially, you know, with everything that s been going on. reporter: patrick was a three-time veteran of the iraq war and the father of 3-year-old lincoln. tell me about patrick, who was he? patrick was a sweet, caring, lovable person. reporter: this year the family christmas tree pays tribute to patrick and the reality that he won t be coming home is still sinking in. to wake up and know that he s not here, that i can t call him. reporter: valerie says his memory lives on in lincoln, who knows her father was an officer. she knows her dad wore a
that s right, the msnbc legal unit talked t officers families, law enforcement experts to probe what has been a deadly year for police. tonight, breaking news. dallas police ambush. five killed, seven injured by sniper fire. when it came on the news that officers had been shot, i froze. reporter: valerie s 32-year-old son, patrick, was a dallas police officer on duty that night. a job he had dreamed of since he was a little boy. did you worry about him when he was on the job? of course, you know, as a family, we all worried about our loved ones, especially with everything that s been going on. reporter: patrick was a three-time veteran of the iraq war, the middle child of a tight-knit ft. worth family and the father of a 3-year-old little girl. tell me about patrick. who was he? patrick was a sweet, caring, lovable person.