Chick-fil-As owners host fundraiser for fallen Texas officer

Law enforcement officers are being urged to keep their head on a swivel and their foot off the accelerator after a new report reveals the leading causes of on-duty deaths.

On Thursday customers at the Chick-fil-A in San Marcos dined with a purpose.

"What happened to him was very sad and tragic,” said customer Sydney Reyes.

The owners of the San Marcos, Kyle and New Braunfels restaurants put their profits aside for the day to dedicate all earnings to the family of fallen Officer Kenneth Copeland.

The father of four was fatally shot while attempting to serve a warrant earlier this month.

"We want to send our condolences out to the family and we hope to make a really terrible situation a little bit easier for them,” said Kyle store owner Anthony Baragus.

Across the country, 128 officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2017.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund released its annual report showing traffic accidents accounted for the majority of the losses. Read the full report here.

"The officers, often times forget about their own vulnerability and the dangers driving a high rate of speed may pose because they want to get that individual in need as quickly as possible,” said Memorial Fund President and CEO Craig Floyd.

He is urging officers to slow their speed. He's also encouraging more situational awareness as the second leading cause of death is shooting incidents, especially on domestic disturbance calls.

Ambush attacks, like we saw with Officer Copeland, were down from 2016, but still accounted for eight lives lost. "With better situational awareness and knowing that that life-threatening moment could come at any second, I think are going to help prevent other officers from losing their lives,” said Floyd.

Another Central Texas law enforcement officer to make the list was Senior Trooper Thomas Nipper.

He was struck on the side of I-35 in Temple.

As the Nipper and Copeland family spend the holidays without their loved one, those like Chick-fil-A customer Sydney Reyes are doing what they can to show their support.

"I feel like his family needs to know we all are very proud of their father and husband and we want them to know that we greatly appreciate them,” said Reyes.

You still have time to participate! The New Braunfels and San Marcos Chick-fil-A locations are open until 10 p.m. The Kyle location will be open until midnight.