Behind the badge and statistics like the 61 officers feloniously killed in 2022 and over 60,000 assaults that same year lies a stark and escalating reality of violence and risk faced by police officers every day they put on their uniform.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 61 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty.
- In 2021, 73 officers died from felonious causes.
- 136 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2023.
- In 2022, 10,085 officers were injured in assaults.
- 2021 assault injuries: 11,041.
- 60,211 assaults on officers in 2022.
- In 2022, 42 officers killed in vehicle crashes.
- Motorcycle accidents: 28 officer deaths 2022.
- 2021: 79 accidental deaths.
- Assaults increased 5% from 2021 to 2022.
- Officer assaults rose 61% from 2016 to 2022.
- Felonious deaths down 10% decade 2013-2022.
- 40% of officers under 35 injured in assaults.
- Male officers: 89% of assault victims 2022.
- Average age of killed officers: 41 in 2022.
Police officers face consistent risks of injury and death while on duty.
Accidental Injuries
- In 2022, 42 officers killed in vehicle crashes.
- Motorcycle accidents: 28 officer deaths 2022.
- 2021: 79 accidental deaths.
- Struck-by vehicles: 30 deaths 2022.
- 2020: 91 traffic-related deaths.
- Falls caused 12 officer deaths 2022.
- Drowning: 4 accidental deaths 2022.
- Electrocution: 2 deaths 2022.
- 2019: 52 vehicle crash deaths.
- BLS 2022: 106 fatal work injuries for police.
- 2018: 47 accidental deaths.
- Aircraft accidents: 3 deaths 2022.
- 2017: 55 traffic fatalities.
- Positional asphyxia: 5 accidental 2022.
- 2016: 61 accidental deaths.
- BLS 2021: 112 police fatal injuries.
- 2015: 48 vehicle deaths.
- Horses/animals: 2 accidental deaths 2022.
- 2014: 52 accidental fatalities.
- Training accidents: 4 deaths 2022.
- 2013: 76 total accidental.
- BLS 2020: 127 fatal injuries.
- 2012: 49 vehicle crashes.
- Medical emergencies during duty: 20 deaths 2022.
- 2011: 55 accidental.
- Exposure to elements: 3 deaths 2022.
- 2010: 70 traffic-related.
- BLS 2019: 98 fatal work injuries.
Accidental Injuries Interpretation
While the dramatic dangers of the job capture headlines, these statistics solemnly remind us that for police officers, the routine commute, a sudden fall, or an unseen medical event while on duty can be as deadly as a felon's bullet.
Demographic Statistics
- 40% of officers under 35 injured in assaults.
- Male officers: 89% of assault victims 2022.
- Average age of killed officers: 41 in 2022.
- White officers: 78% of fatalities 2022.
- Local officers: 85% of assault injuries.
- Female fatalities: 8% in 2022.
- Black officers: 12% of deaths 2022.
- Sheriffs: 15% of injured in assaults.
- Officers 21-30: 30% assault victims.
- Hispanic officers: 10% fatalities 2022.
- Federal officers: 2% of assaults.
- 10+ years service: 60% killed officers.
- State police: 8% assault injuries.
- Under 5 years experience: 25% assaults.
- Male assault rate higher by 3x females.
- Asian officers: 2% of fatalities.
- Patrol officers: 70% injured.
- Average age assault victims: 38.
- Female officers assaults up 20% decade.
- Rural officers injury rate 15% higher.
- Over 50 years old: 10% fatalities.
- Detective/specialized: 15% assaults.
- Minority officers: 22% deaths 2022.
- 5-10 years service: 35% injured.
- Large agency officers: 60% assaults.
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
The data paints a stark picture of a young, white, male patrol officer, still within his first decade on the local force, as the most statistically probable canvas for violence, yet reminds us that this danger increasingly spares no demographic, age, or assignment.
Fatal Injuries
- In 2022, 61 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty.
- In 2021, 73 officers died from felonious causes.
- 136 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2023.
- From 2011-2020, 1,153 officers were feloniously killed.
- In 2019, 48 officers killed by firearms.
- 2020 saw 264 total officer deaths including accidents.
- 55 officers killed in ambushes 2007-2017.
- 96 officers killed in vehicle pursuits 2002-2011.
- In 2016, 66 felonious deaths.
- Texas had 12 officer deaths in 2022.
- 21 officers killed by gunfire in 2022.
- 2018: 50 felonious killings.
- Florida: 8 deaths in 2023.
- 9/11 attacks killed 72 officers.
- 2022 motorcycle patrol deaths: 5.
- Heart attacks claimed 52 officers in 2022.
- Illinois 2022: 7 deaths.
- 1970s average annual felonious deaths: 130.
- California 2023: 11 deaths.
- COVID-19 claimed 139 officers in 2021.
- 2017: 47 gunfire deaths.
- New York 2022: 6 deaths.
- 1920s peak: 200+ annual deaths.
- Pennsylvania 2023: 5 deaths.
- 2015: 41 felonious deaths.
- Ohio 2022: 4 deaths.
- 30 officers killed striking vehicles 2022.
- Georgia 2023: 7 deaths.
- 2014: 51 deaths by firearms.
- Michigan 2022: 3 deaths.
Fatal Injuries Interpretation
While we’ve thankfully moved past the blood-soaked peaks of the 20th century, the modern badge still comes with a cruel menu of mortal threats, from bullets and bad guys to COVID, heart attacks, and being struck by a distracted driver while helping someone on the roadside.
Injury Trends
- Assaults increased 5% from 2021 to 2022.
- Officer assaults rose 61% from 2016 to 2022.
- Felonious deaths down 10% decade 2013-2022.
- Injuries from assaults peaked at 11,900 in 2020.
- Gunfire assaults doubled since 2010.
- Total deaths lowest since 1960s at 130 in 2021.
- Assaults per 100 officers: 12.4 in 2022.
- Firearm injuries up 25% 2019-2022.
- Accidental deaths increased 20% 2020-2022.
- Assaults highest in 2022 since 2010.
- Injuries declined 15% pre-COVID 2015-2019.
- Ambushes tripled 2010-2020.
- Rate of assaults steady at 10-12 per 100 officers.
- COVID deaths spiked to 139 in 2021.
- Vehicle deaths down 5% annually 2018-2022.
- Injuries from personal weapons down 10% 2022.
- Overall line-of-duty deaths up 30% 2020-2022.
- Knife assaults stable at 300-400 annually.
- Hospitalizations from assaults: 25% rate.
- 2023 assaults projected 62,000.
- Firearm felonious deaths down 50% since 1990s.
- Assaults in South region up 10%.
- Decade trend: assaults up 20% 2013-2022.
Injury Trends Interpretation
This is a dangerously mixed bag: while far fewer officers are being murdered, the dramatic rise in overall assaults means the daily job has become a more violent gauntlet of potentially serious injuries.
Non-Fatal Assault Injuries
- In 2022, 10,085 officers were injured in assaults.
- 2021 assault injuries: 11,041.
- 60,211 assaults on officers in 2022.
- Hands, fists, feet injured 42% of assaults 2022.
- Firearms used in 4% of assaults injuring 142 officers 2022.
- Knives injured 41 officers in 2022 assaults.
- 2019: 10,082 assault injuries.
- 72% of injured officers required hospitalization in assaults.
- 2020: 11,900 assault injuries.
- Personal weapons caused 5,948 injuries 2022.
- 2018: 55,159 assaults leading to injuries.
- Female officers: 13% of assault victims 2022.
- 2017: 9,466 injuries from assaults.
- Traffic pursuits caused 1,200 assault injuries 2022.
- 2016: 57,180 assaults.
- Struck by vehicles: 78 injuries in assaults 2022.
- 2015: 50,212 assaults with injuries.
- Other weapons injured 1,250 officers 2022.
- 2023 preliminary: 10,500 assault injuries.
- Metro areas: 80% of assault injuries.
- Rural assaults injured 1,800 officers 2022.
- 2014: 48,315 assaults.
- Felonious assaults: 2,500 injuries 2022.
- 2013: 9,000+ injuries.
- During arrests: 40% of injuries 2022.
- Traffic stops: 25% assault injuries.
Non-Fatal Assault Injuries Interpretation
While the most dramatic weapons make the headlines, the relentless, grinding reality of police work is found in the fact that four in ten officers are injured by nothing more than hands and feet during the routine, volatile encounters of arrests and traffic stops.
Sources & References
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