There has been a huge increase this year both locally and nationally in the number of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

That number went up 43 percent in the first half of 2010, according to data released Wednesday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Three officers have been killed in Maryland so far this year. None were killed in 2009. Two Virginia officers have been killed in 2010, and three were killed in 2009.

Officers who died this year include Prince George’s County officer Thomas Jensen and Montgomery County officer Hector Ayala, who both died in car crashes.