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
1In 2022, 42 officers killed in vehicle crashes.
Verified2Motorcycle accidents: 28 officer deaths 2022.
Verified32021: 79 accidental deaths.
Verified4Struck-by vehicles: 30 deaths 2022.
Directional52020: 91 traffic-related deaths.
Single source6Falls caused 12 officer deaths 2022.
Verified7Drowning: 4 accidental deaths 2022.
Verified8Electrocution: 2 deaths 2022.
Verified92019: 52 vehicle crash deaths.
Directional10BLS 2022: 106 fatal work injuries for police.
Single source112018: 47 accidental deaths.
Verified12Aircraft accidents: 3 deaths 2022.
Verified132017: 55 traffic fatalities.
Verified14Positional asphyxia: 5 accidental 2022.
Directional152016: 61 accidental deaths.
Single source16BLS 2021: 112 police fatal injuries.
Verified172015: 48 vehicle deaths.
Verified18Horses/animals: 2 accidental deaths 2022.
Verified192014: 52 accidental fatalities.
Directional20Training accidents: 4 deaths 2022.
Single source212013: 76 total accidental.
Verified22BLS 2020: 127 fatal injuries.
Verified232012: 49 vehicle crashes.
Verified24Medical emergencies during duty: 20 deaths 2022.
Directional252011: 55 accidental.
Single source26Exposure to elements: 3 deaths 2022.
Verified272010: 70 traffic-related.
Verified28BLS 2019: 98 fatal work injuries.
VerifiedAccidental 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
140% of officers under 35 injured in assaults.
Verified2Male officers: 89% of assault victims 2022.
Verified3Average age of killed officers: 41 in 2022.
Verified4White officers: 78% of fatalities 2022.
Directional5Local officers: 85% of assault injuries.
Single source6Female fatalities: 8% in 2022.
Verified7Black officers: 12% of deaths 2022.
Verified8Sheriffs: 15% of injured in assaults.
Verified9Officers 21-30: 30% assault victims.
Directional10Hispanic officers: 10% fatalities 2022.
Single source11Federal officers: 2% of assaults.
Verified1210+ years service: 60% killed officers.
Verified13State police: 8% assault injuries.
Verified14Under 5 years experience: 25% assaults.
Directional15Male assault rate higher by 3x females.
Single source16Asian officers: 2% of fatalities.
Verified17Patrol officers: 70% injured.
Verified18Average age assault victims: 38.
Verified19Female officers assaults up 20% decade.
Directional20Rural officers injury rate 15% higher.
Single source21Over 50 years old: 10% fatalities.
Verified22Detective/specialized: 15% assaults.
Verified23Minority officers: 22% deaths 2022.
Verified245-10 years service: 35% injured.
Directional25Large agency officers: 60% assaults.
Single sourceDemographic 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
1In 2022, 61 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty.
Verified2In 2021, 73 officers died from felonious causes.
Verified3136 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2023.
Verified4From 2011-2020, 1,153 officers were feloniously killed.
Directional5In 2019, 48 officers killed by firearms.
Single source62020 saw 264 total officer deaths including accidents.
Verified755 officers killed in ambushes 2007-2017.
Verified896 officers killed in vehicle pursuits 2002-2011.
Verified9In 2016, 66 felonious deaths.
Directional10Texas had 12 officer deaths in 2022.
Single source1121 officers killed by gunfire in 2022.
Verified122018: 50 felonious killings.
Verified13Florida: 8 deaths in 2023.
Verified149/11 attacks killed 72 officers.
Directional152022 motorcycle patrol deaths: 5.
Single source16Heart attacks claimed 52 officers in 2022.
Verified17Illinois 2022: 7 deaths.
Verified181970s average annual felonious deaths: 130.
Verified19California 2023: 11 deaths.
Directional20COVID-19 claimed 139 officers in 2021.
Single source212017: 47 gunfire deaths.
Verified22New York 2022: 6 deaths.
Verified231920s peak: 200+ annual deaths.
Verified24Pennsylvania 2023: 5 deaths.
Directional252015: 41 felonious deaths.
Single source26Ohio 2022: 4 deaths.
Verified2730 officers killed striking vehicles 2022.
Verified28Georgia 2023: 7 deaths.
Verified292014: 51 deaths by firearms.
Directional30Michigan 2022: 3 deaths.
Single sourceFatal 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
1Assaults increased 5% from 2021 to 2022.
Verified2Officer assaults rose 61% from 2016 to 2022.
Verified3Felonious deaths down 10% decade 2013-2022.
Verified4Injuries from assaults peaked at 11,900 in 2020.
Directional5Gunfire assaults doubled since 2010.
Single source6Total deaths lowest since 1960s at 130 in 2021.
Verified7Assaults per 100 officers: 12.4 in 2022.
Verified8Firearm injuries up 25% 2019-2022.
Verified9Accidental deaths increased 20% 2020-2022.
Directional10Assaults highest in 2022 since 2010.
Single source11Injuries declined 15% pre-COVID 2015-2019.
Verified12Ambushes tripled 2010-2020.
Verified13Rate of assaults steady at 10-12 per 100 officers.
Verified14COVID deaths spiked to 139 in 2021.
Directional15Vehicle deaths down 5% annually 2018-2022.
Single source16Injuries from personal weapons down 10% 2022.
Verified17Overall line-of-duty deaths up 30% 2020-2022.
Verified18Knife assaults stable at 300-400 annually.
Verified19Hospitalizations from assaults: 25% rate.
Directional202023 assaults projected 62,000.
Single source21Firearm felonious deaths down 50% since 1990s.
Verified22Assaults in South region up 10%.
Verified23Decade trend: assaults up 20% 2013-2022.
VerifiedInjury 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
1In 2022, 10,085 officers were injured in assaults.
Verified22021 assault injuries: 11,041.
Verified360,211 assaults on officers in 2022.
Verified4Hands, fists, feet injured 42% of assaults 2022.
Directional5Firearms used in 4% of assaults injuring 142 officers 2022.
Single source6Knives injured 41 officers in 2022 assaults.
Verified72019: 10,082 assault injuries.
Verified872% of injured officers required hospitalization in assaults.
Verified92020: 11,900 assault injuries.
Directional10Personal weapons caused 5,948 injuries 2022.
Single source112018: 55,159 assaults leading to injuries.
Verified12Female officers: 13% of assault victims 2022.
Verified132017: 9,466 injuries from assaults.
Verified14Traffic pursuits caused 1,200 assault injuries 2022.
Directional152016: 57,180 assaults.
Single source16Struck by vehicles: 78 injuries in assaults 2022.
Verified172015: 50,212 assaults with injuries.
Verified18Other weapons injured 1,250 officers 2022.
Verified192023 preliminary: 10,500 assault injuries.
Directional20Metro areas: 80% of assault injuries.
Single source21Rural assaults injured 1,800 officers 2022.
Verified222014: 48,315 assaults.
Verified23Felonious assaults: 2,500 injuries 2022.
Verified242013: 9,000+ injuries.
Directional25During arrests: 40% of injuries 2022.
Single source26Traffic stops: 25% assault injuries.
VerifiedNon-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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