Data shows police officer gun, traffic deaths decline in first half of 2013

Washington – U.S. law enforcement deaths in the first half of 2013 increased slightly from the previous year, but decreases occurred in firearms- and traffic-related deaths, according to preliminary data released July 11 by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

NLEOMF found that 51 officers died on the job during the first half of this year – 9 percent more than the number of officers killed by mid-year 2012, which was the lowest figure in 52 years.

Other key findings from the report include:

• Traffic-related incidents were the leading cause of police officer deaths, taking 18 officers’ lives in the first six months of 2013. However, this number is a 34-year low.
• Seventeen officers died in firearms-related incidents, which is a 57-year low.
• Job-related illnesses – such as heart attacks – killed 10 officers in the first half of 2013, a sharp increase from two officer deaths in the same period the previous year.