- 69:Number of shooting deaths in 2007, an increase from 52 in 2006.
- 81:Number of traffic-related deaths in 2007, an increase from 73 in 2006.
- 7:Officers killed this year who were woman.
- 39:Average age of police officers killed in the line of duty with an average of 11.4 years in law enforcement.
- 40:Percent of officers who were killed in felonious attacks in 2007.
- 60:Percent of officers who died from accidental causes.
- 51:Number of handguns used in the fatal officer shootings. Shotguns were used in eight.
- 17:Number of federal law enforcement officers who died this year, including five special agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations who were killed in Iraq.
It's also important to note, that aside from 2001, 2007 is the deadliest year since 1989. The number of deaths in 2001 include those lost on September 11th, thus drastically altering the total.
There are many possible explanations for the horrible number, yet one thing remains certain: Law enforcement is still a very dangerous job.
I would like to thank those of you who put your life on the line daily to protect us citizens, and ask that you understand, as PursuitWatch's introduction states:
First let me say welcome. Contrary to what some have said this is not a police-bashing site. PursuitWatch does not support the abolition of police pursuits. PursuitWatch promotes safer pursuit policy and the elimination of unnecessary pursuits. As police officers, I would ask you keep an open mind as you visit these pages. I am open to your suggestions and criticisms and PursuitWatch will publish well written and reasoned rebuttals to our positions. This should be an evolving learning process for all involved. Please remember that when the suspect flees it is you, the police officer, that we depend upon to make the critical life and death decisions that affect you, the public and even the fleeing suspect. The suspect has already made a potentially deadly decision and how you react to this situation is critical. It is at this point that we rely on your training, professionalism and expertise to make the critical judgments that determine the outcomes of these events. Sure-“If the bad guys hadn’t run this wouldn’t have happened.” What is just as true is that once the suspect flees, the police officers involved have virtually as much control of the outcomes of these events as the bad guys.
Here's to working together towards a safe 2008.
