By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
WASHINGTON — As of mid-2023, line-of-duty law enforcement fatalities have decreased a dramatic 66% compared to the same period in 2022, according to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
According to the report, line-of-duty deaths have experienced a decline overall, with a significant portion of this decrease attributed to substantial reductions in COVID-19 fatalities.
Data shows that 52 federal, state, county, municipal, military and campus officers have died in the line of duty as of June 30, 2023, representing a 66% decrease compared to the 153 officers who died in the same time period in 2022.
“There is no good news in reporting the death of even a single police officer, yet based on this preliminary data, we are cautiously optimistic that conditions may be improving for our law enforcement professionals who willingly put themselves at risk to serve and protect,” NLEOMF Interim CEO Bill Alexander said in a statement.
Firearms-Related Fatalities
According to the report, 25 officers were shot and killed during the first six months of 2023. During the same period in 2022, there were 33 officers who were shot and killed, making it a 24% decrease.
So far in 2023, firearm fatalities are the leading category of law enforcement deaths.
The report breaks down the firearm fatalities as such:
- 6 were handling domestic disturbance calls.
- 5 were investigating suspicious persons or circumstances.
- 4 were killed during traffic enforcement.
- 3 were investigating disturbance calls.
- 2 were attempting to make an arrest.
- 2 were responding to robbery/burglary in-progress calls.
- 1 was killed during a tactical encounter.
- 1 was serving a felony warrant.
- 1 was ambushed.
Traffic-Related Fatalities
Data shows 11 officers were killed in traffic-related incidents during the first half of 2023. In the same period in 2022, there were 30 deaths, making it a 63% decrease.
Two of the 11 officers were struck and killed deploying tire deflation devices, the report states. Both officers were from the same law enforcement agency but were killed in separate incidents. Fatalities resulting from being struck and killed represent a decrease of 82%, from 11 in 2022 to two in 2023.
Other Causes and Fatalities
Within the report, the “other” category encompasses a range of health-related deaths and additional line-of-duty fatalities, accounting for 16 officers.
During the initial six months of 2023, two officers succumbed to COVID-19 complications, in contrast to the 72 officers in the corresponding period of 2022.
Additionally, 14 officers died due to other causes in the first half of 2023, as opposed to 18 similar fatalities during the same period last year.
Of the 16 “other” related deaths:
- 8 were fatal medical events.
- 2 were due to aircraft crashes.
- 2 officers fell to their death.
- 2 were related to COVID-19.
- 1 officer died assisting in a fire incident.
- 1 officer died by drowning.
States with the Largest Number of Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities
In 2023, Louisiana recorded the highest count of line-of-duty fatalities among all U.S. states, with a total of six law enforcement officer deaths.
- Wisconsin and Pennsylvania had the second-highest number with four officer deaths each.
- California, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey and Oklahoma had the third highest number with three officer deaths each.
- Illinois, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Tennessee had the fourth highest number with two officer deaths each.
- Twenty-six states, Washington, D.C., the U.S. Territories and Tribal Nations have not lost an officer so far in 2023.
To read the complete report, click here.