The tragic police officer killings in the Puget Sound area reminds longtime Island County residents of the trauma of Nov. 14, 1987.

On that date, two Island County Sheriff’s deputies, William Heffernan and John Saxerud, were gunned down by Darrin Hutchinson, a Whidbey Island man who was sentenced to life in prison.

Hutchinson was a petty criminal who was being booked into jail when he pulled a gun and shot the two law enforcement officers. There’s a memorial in their honor outside the Island County Courthouse. No doubt many still remember them each Nov. 14 or anytime another cop is killed anywhere in the country.

In Seattle on Oct. 31, a Seattle police officer was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car.

On Dec. 1, four Lakewood cops were shot and killed as they sat in a coffee shop.

All of the police killings were absolutely senseless. None of the murderers was defending himself in a shootout. They just decided to pull a gun and kill a cop, with no warning. It’s the utmost act of cowardice, and should serve to remind the public of the extreme danger our police officers are in every minute of the day.

Any time a cop knocks on a door in response to a domestic violence call or some simple complaint, he or she could be greeted by a bullet. Any time a cop pulls over a car and walks toward the driver’s window, his or her life is at risk. As the recent incidents show, just sitting in your car or having coffee before work can be deadly.

The police force has been described as a “thin blue line” that protects decent citizens and the defenseless against the criminal element. Any time that line is broken by the murder of a police officer, it’s tragic. Not just for the family, city and police force involved, but for the whole concept of a just society. One cop killing can lead to another, emboldening other criminals to do the same. In a sense, we’re all wounded when a police officer is gunned down.

It’s the Christmas season and the recent cop killings will soon fade in the public’s memory, overtaken by the latest breaking news. But before you forget, walk up to an Oak Harbor, Coupeville or Langley police officer, or a sheriff’s deputy or Washington state trooper, and say a simple thank you. Let a cop know his or her efforts are appreciated, and we recognize the courage it takes to be part of that thin, blue line. It’s probably the best gift you could give them this holiday season.