Thursday, July 29, 2010
After enjoying a 50-year low in deaths last year, law enforcement is suffering through a significant rise in 2010 in on-duty fatalities among officers. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, so far this year 87 law enforcement personnel, including five women, have died in the line of duty, compared to 61 during the first six months of 2009. That’s a 43% jump. Shooting-related deaths are up 41% and traffic-related fatalities are up 35%.
Traffic-related incidents remain the leading cause of law enforcement deaths for the thirteenth straight year. In the first half of 2010, 29 officers were killed in automobile crashes, four in motorcycle crashes and nine were struck and killed while outside their vehicles.
-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky
Following a 50-Year Low, Law Enforcement Fatalities Surge 43 Percent During the First Half of 2010 (press release, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund)
After 50-Year Low, Law Enforcement Fatalities Surge 43% in First Half of 2010 (National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Research Bulletin) (pdf)
Law Enforcement Deaths Hit 50-Year Low (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
Comments