Number of U.S. police fatalities rise sharply in 2010

Number of U.S. police fatalities rise sharply in 2010

2010-12-29 03:21:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) on Tuesday said the number of U.S. law enforcement fatalities increased by 37 percent in 2010, an alarming increase after two consecutive years of decline.

In 2010, 160 federal, state and local law enforcement agents died in the line of duty, according to NLEOMF data. This was an alarming increase as last year 'only' 117 police fatalities were registered, marking a 50-year low.

From the total 160 fatalities this year, fifty-nine officers were killed by gunfire representing a 20 percent increase over the 49 killed in 2009. NLEOMF chairman Craig Floyd said that the increment was a result of the more "cold-blooded criminals who don't think twice about killing a cop."

The number one cause of death of law enforcement officers was traffic-related incidents, as it was last year. In 2009, 51 police officers died in traffic incidents in contrast with the 73 registered this year. From this amount, 50 died in vehicle crashes, 16 officers were killed while struck outside their vehicles, 6 died in motorcycle accidents and one bike patrol officer died after being hit by a car.

In addition, 19 officers died due to job-related illnesses, two were beaten to death, two drowned, two officers suffered fatal falls, two died in aircraft accidents and one officer died in a boating accident. This preliminary data was released by the NLEOMF in conjunction with Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.).

The U.S. state which registered the most law enforcement fatalities was Texas with 18 deaths. California followed with 11 fatalities; Illinois with 10; Florida with nine; and Georgia with seven. The California Highway Patrol and the Chicago Police Department had five fatalities each, tying for the most deaths from law enforcement agencies.

"In 2009 the number was lower than in previous years, and we were hopeful that we were seeing a positive trend; however, that has not been the case," said COPS President Linda Moon. "Our number of family survivors and affected co-workers unfortunately has also increased."

NLEOMF was established in 1984 and is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honor the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement officers and to promote officer safety. COPS is also a non-profit organization that provides assistance to families of officers killed in the line of duty.

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