AURORA, Colo. -- It's a difficult time for officers nationwide. Almost every week it seems we hear stories of our brave men and women in blue being targeted.
In Colorado, the numbers are staggering: Forty-seven officer-involved shootings this year. Ten this last month alone. Many times, the officers themselves were targeted.
Esteban Hernandez spoke for his fellow neighbors after an officer-involved shooting outside his Aurora home.
“It’s not safe anymore,” he told Denver7.
Earlier Wednesday night, police shot a domestic violence suspect off of 22nd Ave. and Fairplay, after the armed man threatened Aurora officers.
“Lately, I don't know what it is. If it's the drugs or people don't tolerate each other, but it seems like there's an increase in criminal activity," said Hernandez.
The numbers seem to agree.
Wednesday's shooting was the eighth officer-involved shooting in Aurora this year — and the tenth in Colorado in the past month.
On Aug. 2, Colorado Springs officer Cem Duzel was shot responding to a call. He was transferred to Denver last week to continue his recovery.
More than two weeks later, on Aug. 21, Cherry Hills officer Corey Slack was shot responding to a home burglary. He's had four surgeries and is still recovering. A juvenile was arrested last week. Police are still looking for other suspects.
Ten days later, an Aurora officer was shot outside an apartment building near the CU Anschutz Medical Campus . He was treated and released.
Those are just three of the ten cases since early August.
Aurora police say as tragic as the shootings are, the men and women in blue put their lives on the line every day. They're not saying why there have been so many shootings lately, but they say danger comes with the job.
“Things can happen in terms of officers putting themselves in harm's way," said Aurora Police Officer Kenneth Forrest. "Our goal is to keep our officers safe and keep our community safe."
As for Esteban Hernandez, he says enough is enough.
“I don't think we tolerate each other like we used to."
