LEARNING
FROM OUR LOSSES
Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted in 2003
11/08/04
Once again, it is
our solemn duty to report to you the number of U.S.
law enforcement officers killed or assaulted over the last year in service
to our country.
In summary:
- Last
year, 132 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. That's
one officer lost every 2.8 days.
- Of
that total, 52 were "feloniously killed"--murdered
by criminals. Eighty more officers died accidentally while
on duty, mostly in traffic accidents.
- Another
57,841 officers were assaulted on the job last year--about
one every nine minutes.
These statistics--and
the rest contained in the full
report--are a sobering reminder of the dangers facing the men and
women of law enforcement and of the sacrifices they make for our nation.
But this detailed
accounting is more than just a well-deserved tribute to those who have
served. It's underlying aim is prevention.
How? By
spelling out the who, what, when, where, why, and how of these assaults
and murders, the report provides insights into what went wrong and how
these incidents might be avoided in the future.
Details are
crucial: The time of day these incidents took place. The day
of week. The location (city, state, and region). The kind of weapon
used. Whether body armor was worn by the victim officer. The circumstances
at the scene (was it an ambush, traffic stop, or disturbance call?).
How long the fallen officer had served. To name just a few.
Together, these details
paint a telling picture "for law enforcement trainers, analysts,
and others who battle daily to improve the safety of all those who serve."
For these individuals
and for anyone else who is interested, the nearly
90-page report is available free of charge on our website ...
along with a press
release summarizing its key findings.
Links: Uniform
Crime Reports | Criminal Justice Information
Services Division
