Preliminary statistics released by the FBI on Monday show that 41 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in 2015, a 20 percent decrease from the previous year. Although the statistics are preliminary and are subject to revision, these numbers indicate that police officer deaths are near historic lows. This release comes during national police week, which began with a candlelit vigil on May 13.
The preliminary statistics will likely add to the debate about a so-called “war on cops” that some argue is the result of recent police protests. While law enforcement work often involves danger, there is no evidence to suggest that police officer deaths are on the rise. The number of police officer deaths decreased significantly last year and is at the second-lowest level in the past decade.
Take a look at the graphics below to understand these statistics and how they fit into historical trends.
Officer Deaths Over Time
Source: FBI, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2014 and *Preliminary 2015 Release
Both felonious and accidental deaths were relatively low in 2015 compared to previous years. Felonious deaths experienced a 20 percent decrease from the previous year. With 41 felonious deaths, last year matched 2008 with the second lowest number in over a decade. The lowest number in recent history came in 2013 with 27 deaths from felonious incidents in the line of duty.
Accidental deaths did not change between 2014 and 2015, but at 45, that number is at its lowest level for over a decade. A death is considered accidental by the FBI when it was a result of something that was not willful or intentional.
Regional Breakdown
Source: FBI
The chart above details the distribution of felonious police officer deaths from the FBI’s preliminary data. The South saw the most with 46 percent of the total deaths, followed by the West with 22 percent, the Midwest with 12 percent, and Northeast and Puerto Rico with just under 10 percent each.
While the statistics released on Monday do not provide details about the number of law enforcement officers and the population covered by each region, it is important to note that historical data indicates that the South has both more people and officers compared to other regions. Based on data from the 2014 report, the last year with complete data available, the South had about 40 percent of all employed police officers and the South has historically had higher numbers of police officer deaths than other regions.
Weapons Involved
Source: FBI
The chart above details the weapons involved in the 41 felonious officer deaths based on the preliminary data for 2015. All but three deaths were due to the use of firearms, with handguns accounting for nearly three-quarters of firearm deaths. The FBI also notes that 30 of the 41 officers were wearing body armor when they were killed.
The vast majority of the 45 accidental deaths involved automobiles; 29 were due to automotive accidents, seven were struck by vehicles, and four were fatally injured in motorcycle accidents.
A Look at 2016
While the FBI does not have any information available for 2016, and likely won’t until it releases preliminary data this time next year, there are independent counts of law enforcement fatalities with more updated information. The Officer Down Memorial Page, which has tracked this data for a long period of time, has found 17 fatal shootings and one intentional death using a vehicle as a weapon so far this year. As the Guardian points out, if this rate continues for the rest of the year there would be 48 officer deaths–an increase from 2015 and the same number as 2014, based on the website’s count.
The final data, which will have expanded details and information on assaults that resulted in injury in 2015, will be released by the FBI in the fall with its annual Law Enforcement Officers Killed in Assaulted report.