AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the news that a Panola County Sheriff’s Deputy was killed in the line of duty:

“Early this morning another law enforcement officer on duty was gun downed in Panola County after a traffic stop. This young officer leaves a grieving family and two young children behind. This is the 18th officer killed in the line of duty in Texas this year and the third this month. We’ve lost 41 officers in the line of duty in the last 5 years in Texas alone and hundreds nationwide. Please pray for this family, the Panola County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement everywhere. They stand between a civilized society and total lawlessness.

“This violence against police must end. The first thing that must happen is the rhetoric from the radical, anti-police left, which fuels violence and hate against the brave men and women of law enforcement, must stop.

“It’s time for all elected officials in both parties and all Americans to come together as one, as we did after the 9/11 attack, to support our police. If we don’t, it will only get more difficult to find great men and women to take on this critical role for all of us.”