By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor with excerpts from NLEOMF
Law Enforcement line-of-duty deaths rose 25 percent in 2024 compared to the total number of officer deaths in 2023, according to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
In 2024, 147 federal, state, county, municipal, military, tribal, and campus officers died in the line of duty compared to 118 duty deaths the year prior, as reported in the NLEOMF 2024 End-of-Year Preliminary Law Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report.
The leading cause of fatalities in 2024 was gunfire. However, traffic-related deaths rose sharply, resulting in the largest increase when compared to 2023.
Firearms-related fatalities, up 13 percent, were the main cause of line-of-duty deaths with 52 officers killed in 2024 compared to 46 lives lost by gunfire in 2023. Of these deaths: 9 officers died during traffic enforcement; 8 each while attempting arrests and serving warrants/civil papers or an eviction; 6 died while investigating suspicious persons or circumstances; 5 were killed in ambushes; 4 each perished during domestic disturbance calls and tactical encounters; 3 were killed in accidental/inadvertent shootings; and 2 each died investigating disturbance calls and intervening in off-duty robberies.
“The 52 killed by gunfire doesn’t account for officers that were shot and survived and (officers) shot at,” said Rosa Guixens, Executive Director of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, who cited FOP national statistics of 301 officers shot between Jan. 1, 2024 and Oct. 31, 2024. “That’s a staggering number in and of itself. That does not include officers shot at and only covers through Halloween. The highest class (of officers killed) was the officers performing traffic enforcement. You never know who you’re pulling over. The second highest was officers serving warrants and arrests. It just continues to be a problem,” she said, noting a lack of respect for police as a contributing factor.
Traffic-related fatalities jumped 48 percent, up from 31 officers killed in 2023 to 46 in 2024. Fatal crashes accounted for 29 deaths (25 automobile crashes, 4 motorcycle crashes) compared to 23 fatalities in 2023. Notably, “struck-by” deaths (officers struck while outside of their patrol vehicle) spiked 113 percent with 17 deaths in 2024 in contrast to 8 fatalities in 2023.
“The big jump were the 17 officers that were killed by struck-by incidents. It more than doubled,” Guixens said. "Sadly, there were 3 motorcycle officers killed in Palm Beach County. They were on the grass (off the road) when they were struck by a distracted driver who overcorrected, hitting the 3 of them and 3 died in one incident. Between impaired driving, distracted driving, and people not minding the move over laws and speed — speed kills, that’s been proven time and time again. You just can’t control your car after a certain period of time and the next thing you know your (vehicle) is on top of an officer.”
Guixens said officers learn best practices to prevent roadside injuries from training programs nationwide, showcased through NLEOMF’s Officer Safety and Wellness initiative.
“There are a lot of field medics,” she added. “Most officers carry a tourniquet and that’s also helped officers survive shootings and struck-bys too. The biggest thing is being aware. I think by the time they hear (the vehicle), it’s too late and they're unable to get out of the way.”
There were 49 officers who perished from other causes in 2024, including 35 fatal medical events such as long-term illnesses related to the September 11th terrorist attacks and acute medical events caused by extreme and/or stressful events on-duty. Four officers each drowned and were beaten to death; and 2 officers each perished in aircraft crashes and were stabbed to death. One officer died assisting in a fire and another was electrocuted.
Michigan lost 5 officers in the line-of-duty in 2024 including: Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Deputy William Butler, Jr., a POLC member; Melvindale Police Corporal Mohamed Said; Michigan State Police (MSP) Motor Carrier Officer Daniel Kerstetter, MSP Trooper Joel Popp and Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Reckling.
Texas had the most line-of-duty deaths with 18 officers killed in 2024, closely followed by New York with 17 fatalities. Ten federal agency officers died, followed by: 9 Illinois officers; 8 Florida officers; and 6 Georgia officers. There were 5 deaths each in Michigan, North Carolina and Tennessee and 4 deaths each in California, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey and Ohio. Three tribal officers were killed along with 3 officers each in Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota and Virginia. Two U.S. Territory and military officers died along with 2 each in Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.
Each of the following states experienced one officer fatality: Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Click here for the 2024 End-of-Year Preliminary Law Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report for full details.
