Methodology
Federal Law Enforcement Officers

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Data published by the FBI concerning federal officers who were killed or assaulted in the line of duty are provided by six federal agencies:

• the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
• the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• the U.S. Department of Justice.
• the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
• the U.S. Capitol Police.
• the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Within these departments are the agencies, bureaus, and services that employ most of the personnel who are responsible for protecting government officials and enforcing and investigating violations of federal law. Every year, the FBI contacts these agencies and requests information about the officers who were killed or assaulted in the line of duty.

The information concerning federal officers differs slightly from the data regarding assaults on local, state, and tribal law enforcement officers. First, the data regarding federal officers include all reports of assaults or threats to assault regardless of the extent (or the absence) of personal injury. Second, the circumstance categories are tailored to represent the unique duties of federal law enforcement personnel.

 

Release Date: October 2006