Since the Ferguson situation last year that many say sparked a dangerous wave of nationwide anti-police sentiment, law enforcement officers around the country have been forced into a state of increased vigilance.

Not long after Ferguson, two NYPD officers were assassinated by a deranged cop-killer who infamously stated on his social media account that he was going to “put wings on pigs today” before he committed the execution-style murder.

He also stated that the murders were retaliation for the deaths of Mike Brown and Eric Garner.

Then came Baltimore, when the city erupted in flames after Baltimore’s mayor said at a press conference that she wanted to give the rioters a “space to destroy” – which is exactly what they ended up doing.

More than one Baltimore police officer reported that the city’s mayor gave them “stand down” orders, which, in turn, allowed large groups of violent rioters free access to loot, destroy and attack police officers.

And we all watched it happen on live TV. Remember watching those cops just standing there in formation as they were attacked by bottles and bricks? Trust me when I say it wasn’t because they were afraid of the thugs.

After that, a number of officers who did media interviews indicated that they were hesitant to do their jobs, because they didn’t want another Ferguson or Baltimore.

Fast forward to last month – a particularly deadly month for law enforcement. Eight officers were shot and killed in the month of August – four of those happened in the short span of 10 days.

Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Goforth was shot in the head and back, execution-style, while he was pumping gas.

Most recently, Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz was shot and killed while he pursued three burglary suspects.

The bottom line here is that yes, police officers die in the line of duty. It’s one of the risks the brave men and women who wear the uniform take every single time they report for duty.

I recently read in a Los Angeles Times article that many active and retired officers feel that this new wave of police bloodshed “feels different.”

One veteran officer was quoted as saying, “It’s a different world.”

Folks, that’s not good.

Several of my closest friends are honorable, courageous police officers and it breaks my heart that they’re forced to think and act differently thanks to an evil agenda that paints them as the enemy when, in fact, their core duty is to protect innocent lives.

And the worst part? No one knows how to slow down the violent rhetoric that may be responsible for the uptick in police murders. It’s like an incurable cancer at this point.

Lets hope and pray that this violence winds down sooner than later.