Seems low for all the emphasis given to it, statistically speaking (e.g. compare to rate of fatal car wrecks, or even shooting deaths by gang bangers in Chicago).
It is low for the emphasis given. It is well known that trashmen suffer greater losses every year.
Of course, what we cannot determine is the number of times a cop’s process or procedure helped keep them from being attacked. They do enter violent situations fairly often.
All the cops I know have had violent situations often enough that I know they have kept themselves safe where the 45 number would otherwise be much, much higher.
I live in Douglas county, and it seems we lose about 1 a year. We also have a State Patrol office here and they, too, lose about another 1 per year, usually to traffic related deaths.