An already dangerous job becomes even riskier.

The ambush-style killings of two police officers in the Des Moines area add to a deadly increase in a disturbing trend for law enforcement nationwide: the number of police officers gunned down has increased 167% this year, according to a law enforcement group.

It ties for the deadliest year for such attacks, matching 2014’s 16 ambush-style killings.

In all, there have now been 40 officers shot and killed in ambushes since 2014, said Steve Groeninger, spokesperson for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which tracks police fatalities.

Urbandale Police Officer Justin Martin and Des Moines police Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Beminio were the latest fatalities. Both were gunned down separately in their patrol cars while responding to reports of gunfire early Wednesday.

A total of 115 officers have been killed in the line of duty in 2016, a 15% increase over last year. Additionally, 52 of those officers were killed by gunfire, a 58% increase, the Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit reported.

Overall, more officers have been shot and killed so far this year than during any full year since 2011, according to the fund.

“All of these tragedies remind us in very stark terms that America’s law enforcement professionals are facing clear and growing dangers on our behalf. And, when our police officers are at risk, we are all at risk,” Groeninger said.

The last line of the above quote is the key to how this will all unfold if the unhinged anti-police activists keep getting their way. These are baby steps to mob rule, which is all any of the cop-hating protests since the Ferguson riots have had as a goal.

The sentiment that has led to this increase is greatly aided and abetted by both the media and Democrats, who tend to side with the anti-cop crowd both emotionally and vocally, while merely paying lip service to caring about the lives of law enforcement.

We’re already seeing this ginning up of negative sentiment for police manifest itself in the worst way in responses to crime.

Many on the left insist that there is no rise in violence against police officers. When they aren’t lying, they’re justifying the violence.

This won’t get any better while the media continues to refer to rioters as protesters, or said rioters aren’t arrested for fear of of a public outcry. If cops remain skittish about doing their jobs when dealing with criminals (which rioters most definitely are) where does that leave the law abiding citizens? How long before everyone is at the mercy of the lawless?

Those questions may be answered much sooner than most would like.