At least a dozen cops from Connecticut to Mississippi were shot last week

At least a dozen police officers were shot last week amid a spike in anti-police violence, as the nation's largest police union connected the violence to anti-police policies and messaging.

"Since Monday, at least 12 police officers have been shot," the National Fraternal Order of Police tweeted on Thursday. "The spewing of anti-police rhetoric by some political and media figures as well as the failed policies of rogue prosecutor and judges are placing our officers in greater danger. This culture of lawlessness must stop!" 

With 56 police officers killed by gunfire so far this year, the United States is on a pace for the deadliest year for officers since 2016, according to organizations that track violence, the Associated Press reports.

Two officers were killed in an ambush in Bristol, Conn., on Wednesday after responding to a 911 call about domestic abuse. The call turned out to be a ruse to lure the officers into an ambush, according to state police, NBC reported.

Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould identified the slain officers as Dustin DeMonte, 35, and Alex Hamzy, 34. Another officer, Alec Iurato, was injured. 

"Words cannot express the sadness and grief that brings me before you this morning," Gould said at a news conference. He lamented the deaths as "the result of senseless violence."

In Raleigh, N.C., an off-duty police officer was killed Friday along with four others in a shooting on a walking trail. The suspect was arrested, but as of now the police do not know the motive.

"Tonight, terror has reached our doorstep," said North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. "The nightmare of every community has come to Raleigh. This is a senseless, horrific and infuriating act of violence that has been committed."

In Greenville, Miss., Detective Myiesha Stewart was killed while responding to a call in her hometown. She was 30 years old and left behind a three-year-old son, according to NewsNation.

"There's an ongoing war on our police fueled by dangerous anti-cop rhetoric and the mainstream media is often ignoring it," television host and legal commentator Dan Abrams said on NewsNation Thursday.