Police fatalitiesRecord high police fatalities, second year in a row
For the second year in a row, a record number of law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty; the chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund blamed the recent spate of law enforcement deaths on budget cuts
For the second year in a row, a record number of law enforcement officers were killedin the line of duty.
According to data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), there was a 13 percent spike in deaths compared to 2010 and a 42 percent jump from 2009. Of the 173 officers killed last year, the majority died due to gunfire, a marked change from the previous thirteen years when most deaths resulted from car accidents.
Craig W. Floyd, the chairman of the NLEOMF, blamed the recent spate of law enforcement deaths on budget cuts.
“Drastic budget cuts affecting law enforcement agencies across the country have put our officers at grave risk,” Floyd said. “At a time when officers are facing a more cold-blooded criminal element and fighting a war on terror, we are cutting vital resources necessary to ensure their safety and the safety of the innocent citizens they protect.”
As a result of budget cuts, Floyd said, based on a survey of police chiefs across the country, 60 percent of departments had cut back on training, 64 percent had reduced spending on major equipment purchases, and 58 percent had slashed technology spending.
Echoing Floyd’s sentiments, Linda Moon Gregory, the president of Concerns of Police Survivors, stated, “I’m deeply concerned that budget constraints may be compromising the safety of our remaining law enforcement officers due to cuts in personnel and reduced affordability of life saving equipment. At a time when criminals have the latest technology and weapons, we must ensure that our peace officers are adequately equipped and protected.”
She added, “The hard fact is that for the first time in 2011, more officers were killed in firearms-related incidents than traffic-related incidents.”
To help ensure the safety of law enforcement officers, Floyd said the NLEOMF is partnering with several organizations including the U.S. Justice Department and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration on several initiatives.
