Saturday, October 10, 2009
Engraving Day, 2008 (photo: NLEOMF)
For the second year in a row, the nation is on pace to break the record for fewest law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. In 2008, 133 police, sheriff and other officers were killed—the lowest total since 1960. This year, officer fatalities are down 7% from the same time in 2008 (95 compared to 102 deaths), giving the country a good chance to set another new record.
The current pace is surprising because officer fatalities were up 20% during the first half of this year. But a dramatic drop from July-September changed the situation entirely. In the third quarter of 2009, 26 officers died, while 43 perished during the same time period in 2008.
So far this year, not a single female officer has been killed, whereas 13 were killed in 2008.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Fall Sharply During Third Quarter of 2009 (National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund)
Law Enforcement Fatalities Facts & Figures (National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund)
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