WASHINGTON, D.C. — 2007 has been a deadly
year for law enforcement in the United States, with 186
officers killed nationwide as of December 26, according
to preliminary statistics from the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and Concerns
of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). When compared with 2006,
when 145 officers died, officer fatalities rose more
than 28 percent this year. Outside of 2001, when 239
officers died — 72 in the September 11 terrorist attacks
— 2007 is the deadliest year for American law
enforcement since 1989, the NLEOMF and C.O.P.S. said in
their preliminary report on 2007 officer deaths.
The number of officers killed by gunfire and in
traffic-related incidents both increased in 2007, the
latter reaching a record high of 81. So far this year,
69 officers have been shot and killed, up 33 percent
from 2006, when there were 52 fatal shootings. Six times
this year, two or more officers were gunned down in the
same incident, including a shooting that killed three
Odessa (TX) Police officers in early September.
"In 2007, our nation's law enforcement officers were
confronted with more brazen, heavily armed and
cold-blooded criminals than they have faced in many
years," said Craig W. Floyd, Chairman and CEO of the
NLEOMF, a non-profit organization that researches
officer fatalities and maintains the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. "Even
in the face of incredible danger, our men and women in
blue displayed remarkable bravery in working to protect
the rest of us. As this tragic year comes to a close,
every American owes our law enforcement officers an
incredible measure of gratitude," Mr. Floyd added.
Law enforcement officers killed in traffic-related
incidents also increased, from 73 in 2006 to a new high
of 81 this year. The previous high was 78 in 2000. 2007
is the 10th year in a row in which traffic-related
incidents were the leading cause of officer deaths
nationwide. Of the 81 traffic-related deaths this year,
60 officers died in automobile crashes and six in
motorcycle crashes, and 15 were struck by automobiles
while outside their own vehicles.
Among other causes of deaths, 18 officers died from
physical causes, primarily heart attacks, four drowned,
three fell to their deaths and two were killed by
falling objects. Three officers died in aircraft
accidents, and one was killed in a boating accident.
"The surviving families of these fallen officers will be
struggling for many months trying to adjust to life
without their officer," said Jean Hill, National
President of C.O.P.S., which provides resources to
assist in rebuilding the lives of surviving families of
officers killed in the line of duty. "There will be
hundreds more survivors needing our services due to the
increased numbers of deaths, and C.O.P.S. will need to
increase its efforts to assist these families. We will
strive to reach our mission for these families and help
them rebuild their shattered lives. And that support
from C.O.P.S. will be there for the families for as long
as they need our support," Mrs. Hill continued.
Other findings in the report include the following:
- Forty-one states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands experienced
officer fatalities during 2007. Texas, with 22, had
the most officer deaths, followed by Florida (16),
New York (12), California (11) and Louisiana (9).
- Seventeen federal law enforcement officers died
this year, including five special agents of the Air
Force Office of Special Investigations who were
killed in Iraq.
- The officers killed in 2007 ranged in age from
19 to 76; the average age was 39. The officers had
an average of 11.4 years in law enforcement. Seven
of the officers killed this year were women.
- Handguns were used in the vast majority of fatal
officer shootings (51). Shotguns were used in eight
officer killings and rifles in nine others,
including September's fatal shooting of Miami-Dade
(FL) Police Officer Jose Somohano with an assault
weapon.
- Approximately 40 percent of the officers who
died this year were killed in felonious attacks; the
other 60 percent died from accidental causes. Up
until the late 1990s, more officers died in
felonious attacks than accidents.
- Alcohol was a contributing factor in 21 of this
year's officer fatalities, up from 17 in 2006;
illegal drugs played a role in 21 deaths, up from 11
in 2006.
After peaking at 277 in 1974, officer fatalities have
generally declined over the past three decades, with the
exception of the increase in 2001. The annual average
number of officers killed was 228 in the 1970s, 190 in
the 1980s, 160 in the 1990s and 167 from 2000-2006.
The statistics released by the NLEOMF and C.O.P.S. are
preliminary data and do not represent a final or
complete list of individual officers who will be added
to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in
2008. The preliminary report, "Law Enforcement Officer
Deaths, 2007," is available at
www.nleomf.org. For more information about C.O.P.S.,
visit
www.nationalcops.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Morison, (202) 737-7134
or
C.O.P.S. - Suzie Sawyer,(573) 346-4911
Suzie_Sawyer@nationalcops.org |
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