Saturday night’s tragic events in Hattiesburg underscore just how dangerous it can be for the men and women who enforce our laws.

Law enforcement officers never know what awaits them when they knock on a door or pull over a vehicle. Unfortunately, it was deadly gunfire waiting on two Hattiesburg police officers following a routine traffic stop. It’s the first killing of a Hattiesburg police officer in 30 years.

According to the Hattiesburg American newspaper, one of the slain officers was shot in the face and the other officer was struck under his vest. Four suspects have been charged in the shooting.

A Hattiesburg Police Department spokesman identified the officers as 34-year-old Benjamin Deen and 25-year-old Liquori Tate. Deen was a past department “Officer of the Year,” and Tate was a newcomer to the force. Both leave behind family members and friends who must now navigate life without them.

Outside of the military, no other profession carries the inherent danger that law enforcement officers face. And they typically do the job for little money and even less gratitude from those they protect.

Most officers we’ve known do the job because they genuinely care about people, and they care about protecting their communities. While LEOs know they may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice while on the job, we doubt these two officers expected to die Saturday night. Their families likely didn’t expect them to die either.

“The men and women who go out every day to protect us, the men and women who go out every day to make sure that we’re safe, they were turned on (Saturday) night,” Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree said following the shooting.

At a memorial service Monday, hundreds gathered to remember the two fallen officers.

“These officers did not just belong to the Hattiesburg Police Department. They belong to us all,” Gov. Phil Bryant said at the service. “Officer Deen, Officer Tate were the watchmen on our walls.”

To all law enforcement officers are out there, we offer our deepest gratitude for the job you do. We can sleep soundly at night because of your sacrifices. Thank you.