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Stacked bar chart of U.S. law enforcement deaths in the line of duty from 1791 through 2020. General cause of death shown by color.[1]

This is a list of U.S. law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Summaries of the overall casualty figures, by year, are also provided.

Overview by year

According to the FBI, which publishes the data in the Uniform Crime Reports, from 1980 to 2014, an average of 64 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed per year. Those killed in accidents in the line of duty are not included in that number.[2]

2010

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 180 deaths in the line of duty.[3] The average from 1990 to 2010 was 164 per year.[4]

2011

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 187 deaths in the line of duty.[5] The FBI reported that in 2011, "69 law enforcement officers from around the nation were killed in the line of duty, while another 53 officers died in accidents while performing their duties."[6] (released November 19, 2012) NBC News reported 165 dead.[7]

2012

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 141 deaths in the line of duty.[8] For 2012, the FBI records 49 deaths in the line of duty.[9] The FBI Fund counted 49 federal, state and local officers to have been killed in 2012.

2013

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 128 deaths in the line of duty.[10] The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund counted 102 federal, state and local officers to have been killed in 2012.[11] The official count from the FBI is that 27 law enforcement officers were 'feloniously' killed in the line of duty in 2013 (the lowest in a 35-year period 1980–2014), and an additional 49 died in accidents (total: 76).[2][12]

2014

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 158 deaths in the line of duty.[13] The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund counted 126 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers killed.[14] The preliminary count from the FBI is that 51 law enforcement officers were 'feloniously' killed in the line of duty in 2014, and an additional 44 died in accidents (total: 95).[12]

2015

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 164 deaths in the line of duty.[15] The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund counted 124 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers killed. Forty-two officers were shot and killed and 52 officers were killed in traffic-related incidents.[16]

2016

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 171 deaths in the line of duty.[17] The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund counted 135 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers killed. Sixty-four officers were shot and killed and 21 were ambushed.[18]

2017

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 152 deaths in the line of duty.[19] The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund counted 128 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers killed. Fatalities decreased more than 10 percent with traffic-related fatalities the leading cause this year.[20] Firearms-related fatalities were the second-leading cause of officer deaths, with 44 officers shot and killed in 2017. This represents a 33 percent decrease from the 66 officers killed in firearm-related incidents during 2016.[21]

2018

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 150 deaths in the line of duty.[22] The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund counted 144 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers killed. The FBI, however, reported 106 deaths in the line of duty.[23] Firearms-related fatalities were the leading cause of officer deaths for the year.[24]

2019

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 150 deaths in the line of duty.[25] The leading cause of death for 2019 was gunfire at 49 deaths followed by 9/11-related cancers at 24 deaths. The state with the highest number of line-of-duty deaths was New York with 25 followed by Texas with 18.

2020

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 436 deaths in the line of duty.[26] The leading cause of death for 2020 was COVID-19 at 281 deaths followed by gunfire at 46 deaths and 9/11-related cancers with 35 deaths. The state with the largest number of line-of-duty deaths was Texas with 78 followed by New York with 43.

2021

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 633 deaths in the line of duty.[27] The leading cause of death for 2021 was COVID-19 at 454 deaths followed by gunfire at 64 deaths. Fifty-eight officers died in vehicle-related deaths (vehicular homicide, struck by vehicle while on-duty, automobile crash during pursuit). The state with the highest number of line-of-duty deaths was Texas with 107 followed by Florida with 60.

2022

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports 230 deaths in the line of duty.[28] The leading cause of death for 2022 was COVID-19 at 74 deaths followed by gunfire at 60 deaths. The state with the highest number of line-of-duty deaths was Texas with 32.

Lists of officers killed

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

This list does not include deaths due to the 9/11 attacks.

Prior to 2010

2010

Main article: List of American police officers killed in 2010

2011

Main article: List of American police officers killed in 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

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