Number of LEOs Killed by Gunfire in the U.S. Falls Sharply in 2008

[ericire12]

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS34803+29-Dec-2008+PRN20081229

Dramatic reversal from 2007; fewest officers killed by gunfire in 50 years;
record number of female officers die this year
 
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 2008 is ending as one of the
safest years for U.S. law enforcement in decades. The number of officers
killed in the line of duty fell sharply this year when compared with 2007, and
officers killed by gunfire reached a 50-year low.

Based on their analysis of preliminary data, the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
found that 140 officers have died in the line of duty so far this year, a 23
percent reduction from the 2007 figure of 181. Other than 1996, when 139
officers were killed, 2008 represents the lowest year for officer fatalities
since 1965, when 136 officers died in the line of duty.

This year's reduction includes a steep, 40 percent drop in the number of
officers who were shot and killed, from 68 in 2007 to 41 in 2008. The last
time firearms-related fatalities were this low was 1956, when there were 35
such deaths. The 2008 figure is 74 percent lower than the total for 1973, when
a near-record high 156 law enforcement officers were shot and killed. 

"2007 was a wake-up call for law enforcement in our country, and law
enforcement executives, officers, associations and trainers clearly heeded the
call, with a renewed emphasis on officer safety training, equipment and
procedures," said NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd. "The reduction in
firearms-related deaths is especially stunning, given the tremendous firepower
possessed by so many criminals today. The fact that law enforcement has been
able to drive down the crime rate, and do so with increased efficiency and
safety, is a testament to the hard work and professionalism of our officers,"
Mr. Floyd added.

"Concerns of Police Survivors is pleased to see the reduction in officer
deaths for 2008 and hopes this is a trend we will see year after year. But we
also know that for each of the surviving families and co-workers, their one
officer is one too many," said C.O.P.S. National President Jennifer Thacker.
"These families, co-workers and agencies are struggling to cope with life
without their officer and will need support from C.O.P.S. before, during and
long after National Police Week. C.O.P.S. will continue its efforts to provide
life rebuilding support and resources for 2008 surviving families and affected
co-workers, as well as past year survivors to help them rebuild their
shattered lives. We will embrace these families and affected co-workers and
assure them there is no fee to join C.O.P.S., for the price paid is already
too high," she said.

In 2008, for the 11th year in a row, more law enforcement officers, 71, died
in traffic-related incidents than from gunfire or any other single cause of
death. Mirroring the nationwide drop in traffic fatalities among the general
public this year, the number of officers killed in traffic incidents was down
14 percent from 2007. Last year, a record high 83 officers died on our
roadways. Of this year's traffic-related fatalities, 44 officers died in
automobile crashes, 10 died in motorcycles crashes and 17 were struck and
killed by other vehicles.

Among other causes of death, 17 officers succumbed to job-related physical
illnesses, three died in aircraft accidents, two were fatally stabbed, two
died in bomb-related incidents, and one each was beaten to death, drowned,
accidentally electrocuted and died in a train accident.

Fifteen of the officers killed this year were women, equaling the all-time
high set in 2002. 2008 marked the first time that more than 10 percent of the
officers who died in a year were female. Among all officers killed in 2008,
the average age was 40 and the officers had served an average of 12 years in
law enforcement.

Texas, for the second year in a row, experienced the most law enforcement
officer fatalities, although the state's 2008 total of 14 was down from 22 in
2007. California had 12 officer fatalities, followed by Florida and
Pennsylvania, with eight each. Four of the eight Pennsylvania officers to die
this year were members of the Philadelphia Police Department, which
experienced the most deaths of any agency. Thirty-five states, Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands lost officers in 2008. Eight officers serving with
federal law enforcement agencies also died this year, down from 17 in 2007.

Mr. Floyd cited a number of reasons for the sharp decline in officer
fatalities this year: 1) better training and equipment, plus a realization
among officers that "every assignment is potentially life-threatening, no
matter how routine or benign it might seem;" 2) increased use of less-lethal
weaponry, including TASER stun guns, which allow officers to apprehend
resisting violent offenders with less chance of assault or injury; 3) more
officers wearing bullet-resistant vests--over the past 20 years, vests have
saved more than 3,000 law enforcement lives; 4) a downturn in violent
crime--the Department of Justice reported that violent crime is at its lowest
level since 1973; and 5) a tougher criminal justice system, with a record 2.3
million offenders in correctional facilities nationwide.

****Just a little aside, I noticed that this was my 2,000th post. Glad it could be used to debunk the anti-gun loons out there that think we need to ban the "evil assault weapons" to keeps our police safe!

[TAB]

For as long as I can remember, more cops are killed  by cars then anything else.

[SigShooter]

For as long as I can remember, more cops are killed  by cars then anything else.

I used to live in Centerville, OH. It's a city of 23k with only about 5 or 6 murders in 200 years. The only police officer killed in the line of duty was hit by a car under circumstances I can't remember. He as a street named after him however.

On a more positive note, I also believe that the decrease in donut consumption may play a role in improved officer's health 

[TAB]

I used to live in Centerville, OH. It's a city of 23k with only about 5 or 6 murders in 200 years. The only police officer killed in the line of duty was hit by a car under circumstances I can't remember. He as a street named after him however.

On a more positive note, I also believe that the decrease in donut consumption may play a role in improved officer's health 

In my general area, we have had 3 cops killed in 08.   2 bike cops,both going faster then thier skills... and another cop who was killed by...
Another cop.( big prison drug ring)    out of the last 20 LEO deaths in my area.( which is about 45 years )  only 3 were murdered. 

[CurrieS103]

As civilian gun ownership goes up along with concealed carry the fewer officers lost in the line of duty....Hmmm.  I wonder how Brady and the DNC will explain that?

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

As civilian gun ownership goes up along with concealed carry the fewer officers lost in the line of duty....Hmmm.  I wonder how Brady and the DNC will explain that?

No one has ever been able to prove that guns had any effect on crime what so ever.

[SigShooter]

No one has ever been able to prove that guns had any effect on crime what so ever.

More Guns, Less Crime by John R. Lott, Jr.

[TAB]

More Guns, Less Crime by John R. Lott, Jr.

Lott recanted, avery long time ago,  thanks for staying up on current events.

[tombogan03884]

Lott recanted, avery long time ago,  thanks for staying up on current events.

Lott don't matter , Current statistics, gun ownership climbing crime falling in a worsening economy. The point is made.
TAB, you already admitted to attending USC and UC, so don't start with your liberal BS again.