Law officer deaths in 2013 fall to lowest in 54 years

Doug Stanglin | USA TODAY

The number of fatalities of U.S. law enforcement officers in 2013 is the lowest in 54 years and the number dying in firearms-related incidents is the lowest since the 1800s, according to a preliminary report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

According to the NLEOMF, 111 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty nationwide in 2013. This was the fewest for the law enforcement profession since 1959 when 110 officers died. This also represents an 8 per cent drop from 2012, when 121 officers died.

The primary cause for officer fatalities this year was traffic-related incidents, which claimed 46 lives.

Firearms-related incidents accounted for 33 deaths, a drop of one-third over 2012 and the lowest since 1887 when 27 officers were shot to death, the NLEOMF reports.

Thirty-two officers died of other causes in 2013, including 14 who suffered heart attacks while on duty.

The organization credits the decrease to safety measures installed after 2011 when fatalities soared to 169. These included an increase in the number of agencies requiring officers to wear bullet-resistant vests and the formation of the National Officer Safety and Wellness Group by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The NLEOMF is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1984.

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