According to the FBI’s annual Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 (LEOKA) report published Monday, more law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2018 than the previous year.
LEOKA shows 55 officers were “feloniously killed,” and 51 died accidentally, for a total of 106 killed in 2018, a 12% spike YoY. Of the 55, 23 died in tactical situations, traffic stops, investigating suspicious activities, attempting to arrest wanted persons, or trying to de-escalate a situation with a mentally unstable person.
Eleven officers died in ambushes, and four died while investigating burglaries or a person with a firearm. The report said 93% of the (51/55) felonious deaths, the perpetrator used a handgun.
Twenty-six officers died in the southern states, that is twice as many than any other region in the country. Twelve officers died each in the Midwest and West, and four died in the Northeast. Twelve officers died in the Midwest, and 12 died in the West, and four died in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
Law Enforcement Officers Feloniously Killed Region, Geographical Division, and State, 2009-2018Â
Law Enforcement Officers Accidentally Killed Region, Geographical Division, and State, 2009-2018Â
Over half of the perpetrators had criminal arrests, and 20% were under judicial supervision at the time of the feloniously killing of an officer.
Law Enforcement Officers Feloniously Killed Percent Distrubtion by Type of Weapon, 2009-2018
Motor vehicle deaths were the primary cause of accidental deaths with 34 officers dying in traffic accidents. Nine officers were struck by vehicles, three drowned, and two died of firearms-related charges.
Of the officers who were feloniously killed in 2018:
- The average age was 37.
- The average tenure in law enforcement was 10 years.
- Three were female and 52 were male.
Of the officers who were accidentally killed last year:
- The average age was 36.
- The average tenure in law enforcement was 10 years.
- Four were female and 47 were male.
However, there is some improving news. LEOKA’ latest preliminary statistics (as of May 5) show that 15 officers were killed feloniously so far this year, down from 27 in 2018 in the same period.
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