Every year, law enforcement leaders do all that they can to reduce the line of duty deaths. There is a very concentrated effort to bring this number below 100, a number not the seen since 1943. In 1974, the all-time high year for officer deaths, 278 were killed in the line of duty. Through significant innovations in training, emergency medicine and vehicles, as well as the development of ballistic armor, these have all contributed to bring this number down. On average, 150 law enforcement personnel are killed every year in the last ten years. Together, we can bring that number to below 100 (http://below100.org/). Each year, I am committed to working with officers, trainers and supervisors to take individual and collective responsibility for the decisions and actions that contribute to officer safety. We can do this, I know we can!
In October 2015, 7 U.S. law enforcement officers tragically died in the line-of-duty. This number brings the total year-to-date figure to 106 officers. The average age of those killed in the month of October was 50, with an average tour-of-duty just shy of 16 years.
Three officers were lost to gunfire: One death occurred during the pursuit and exchange of fire with a suspect; the second involved an assailant disarming the officer and using his service weapon against him; the third was the result of an attack on the officer as he was handcuffing the suspect following a traffic stop.
The IACP, in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), recently recorded a webinar outlining the officer safety considerations for domestic violence response calls. It addresses officer vigilance, preparation and on-scene tactical strategies for officers, and stresses the overall importance of utilizing de-escalation practices to ensure the safety of all parties. It can be viewed here.
Three officers also tragically died in automobile crashes. The IACP continues to emphasize that commanders and supervisors stress the importance of slowing down, make distracted driving a priority, and promote mandatory seatbelt wear.
Finally, the IACP continues to stress the overall importance of fitness, nutrition, and routine medical screenings as key components of overall officer wellness and lifestyle. IACP’s Center for Officer Safety and Wellness website has an array of resources covering these topics. To request hard copies of any of the resources or to provide us with innovative officer safety-related practices that your department is employing, please contact officersafety@theiacp.org.
About ODMP: The Officer Down Memorial Page is a non-profit agency dedicated to honoring the memory of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The largest law enforcement memorial in the United States, ODMP pays tribute to over 22,000 fallen law enforcement officers in its online memorial and reflection pages. ODMP also honors fallen K9 officers, provides support to survivors through a benefits database, and works to keep cop killers behind bars through its No Parole program. The ODMP database tracks LODD statistics in the US back to 1791, enabling the law enforcement community to analyze trends and patterns in order to work toward the goal of improving officer safety.
Courtesy Eddie Reyes, IACP