Officers Accidentally Killed
Download
Printable Document
This page provides information regarding accidental line-of-duty deaths of duly sworn
city, university and college, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement officers
who met the same criteria as officers feloniously killed.
Overview
- In 2007, 83 law enforcement officers died as the result of accidents that occurred in the line of duty.
- Accidental line-of-duty deaths of law enforcement officers occurred in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam in 2007.
- Thirty-four of the officers accidentally killed were employed by city police departments, 25 were employed by county agencies, 14 were employed by state agencies, and 9 were employed by federal agencies. One officer accidentally killed was employed in Guam.
More information about these topics (including annual totals from 1998 to 2007) is
provided in Tables 48, 49, 59, 60, and 64.
Victim profile
- The average age of the officers who died accidentally was 37 years.
- The average length of law enforcement service for the 83 officers accidentally
killed in the line of duty in 2007 was 9 years.
- Of the 83 officers who were accidentally killed, 70 were white, 8 were black, and
1 was Asian/Pacific Islander. The race was not reported for 4 of the victim
officers.
More information about these topics is provided in Tables 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58.
Circumstances
- Of the 83 officers who were accidentally killed in the line of duty in 2007, 49 died
as a result of automobile accidents. Twelve officers were struck by vehicles,
6 officers died in motorcycle accidents, and 6 officers died during other types of
accidents.
- Of the 12 officers struck by vehicles, 7 were involved in traffic stops or roadblocks
and 5 officers were directing traffic and assisting motorists.
- Four officers were accidentally shot as a result of crossfire or other firearm mishap.
More information about this topic (including a complete breakdown of the types of
circumstances in which officers accidentally died) is provided in Tables 61, 62, 63, and
64.
Assignments
- Fifty-one of the 83 officers accidentally killed in the line of duty in 2007 were alone at the time of the accident.
- Thirty-one officers had assistance at the time their fatal accidents occurred.
- Of the 83 officers accidentally killed in 2007, 1 officer was off duty.
More information about this topic is included in Tables 59, 60, 62, and 63.
Regional and outlying area breakdowns
Of the 83 officers who were accidentally killed in the line of duty in 2007:
- 46 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the South.
- 19 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the West.
- 11 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the Midwest.
- 6 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the Northeast.
- 1 officer was employed by an agency in Guam.
More information about this topic (including annual totals from 1998 to 2007) is provided in Table 48.
Months, days, and times of incidents
Months
- In 2007, the greatest number of accidents resulting in the deaths of law enforcement officers (14 in each month) occurred in April and October.
- The fewest accidents resulting in officer deaths (2) occurred in January.
Days
- More officers (17) were fatally injured in accidents on Wednesday than on any other day of the week.
- The fewest fatal accidents (6) occurred on Monday.
Times
- More officers (46) were fatally injured in accidents that occurred between the hours of 12:01 p.m. and midnight.
- 37 officers were killed in accidents occurring from 12:01 a.m. and noon.
More information about these topics (including annual totals from 1998 to 2007) is
provided in Tables 50, 51, and 52.