Residents of Northwest Missouri might not immediately recognize the names Tom Ballwin and William Briggs. But folks in these parts recognize the grim kinship shared with the two men.

Officer Ballman and Sgt. Biggs served with the Kirkwood Police Department in suburban St. Louis. They died on Feb. 7, 2008, when a gunman opened fire at a City Council meeting in that community.

They were among six Missouri law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during the year, according to a report issued Monday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. A Missouri-based organization, Concerns of Police Survivors, cooperated in the research.

The report, tagged preliminary because days remain in 2008, showed 140 officer deaths this year. In 2007, the total was 181.

Missouri ranked sixth among the states and U.S. territories with line-of-duty deaths, behind Texas (14), California (12), Florida (8), Pennsylvania (8) and Georgia (7).

While the St. Joseph region stood apart from these sad statistics in 2008, the numbers still resonate among local residents. Ten years ago, St. Joseph Police Department Officer Bradley Arn died while responding to a gunman's attack. In 1999, Sgt. Robert Kimberling of the Missouri State Highway Patrol died when shot during a traffic stop along Interstate 29. And Buchanan County Deputy Sheriff Charles Cook died in an on-duty traffic accident in 2007.

A Peace Officers Memorial is located in the Civic Center Park south of the St. Joseph City Hall.

Monday's report framed some positive news. In 2008, it said, fewer officers were killed by gunfire (41) than in any year since 1956. That compares to 68 firearms-related deaths in 2007.

Still, the 140 officer deaths hit home not only in 140 families but in every place where men and women protect and serve the public.