Violent Deaths of Officers on the Rise in 2011

This chart may be republished with proper citing. Click chart to enlarge.

The good news first: Overall, line of duty deaths are down by 12% this year compared to the same date last year. As of February 25, 2011, America has lost 30 law enforcement officers in the line of duty (compared to 34 on February 25, 2010).

The bad news: We've seen nearly a complete reversal on recent trends which held that auto-related incidents are the leading cause of fatalities.

This time last year we had suffered only 9 deaths by gunfire and 16 in auto-related incidents. This year it is almost a mirror image: 16 felonious deaths (15 gunfire and 1 assault) and 9 auto-related incidents.

Over the past decade as auto-related incidents overtook shootings as the leading cause of fatalities there has been a tremendous amount of attention given to safer driving initiatives - like the Below 100 initiative - both for law enforcement officers and the general public. Case in point, most states now have "Move Over" laws that are being heavily enforced on our highways. Just as important, FTOs, academy instructors, and patrol sergeants are changing the traditional law enforcement culture of not wearing seat belts and driving too fast to calls. These simple awareness campaigns seem to be doing their part this year in reducing the number of traffic related deaths.

Without impacting the great headway we've made this year in reducing auto-related deaths, all officers need to maintain that heightened level of awareness that criminals today are more brazen and showing less regard for human life - their own and the officers.

Reducing both traffic-related deaths AND gunfire deaths is the only way we'll be able to truly drop line of duty deaths "Below 100."

Volunteers Needed During Police Week

Our good friends at Concerns of Police Survivors are looking for volunteers at the survivor's hotel during Police Week. This is an excellent chance to help survivors during one of the most important weeks of the year. I've done this each year for the past 15 or so years, and I can tell you from experience it's the week I look forward to the most each year. You will not regret helping out and meeting the survivors and other officers who are volunteering!!!

Any and all help is appreciated, even if it's only for an hour or two. If you can help, please contact Cathy Hill at [email protected]

All of the help is needed at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center (the survivor's host hotel). The hotel is a 15 minute drive from downtown DC in Alexandria, Virginia. Here's a quick breakdown of what is needed when:

May 12th, 8:30 am - whenever work if finished

• Unload supplies from truck
• Prepare tote bags for survivors (to be handed out at registration)
• Display and info table setup

May 13th

• 8 am - 5 pm: Staff registration tables (provide name tags, tote bags, info, etc. to survivors)
• 5 pm - 8 pm: Assist families to Candlelight Vigil (for families that don't have escort officers)

May 14th

• 8 am - 5 pm: Staff information tables
• 8 am - 5 pm: Assist survivors to conference sessions
• Evening: Staff games and concessions at the Sawyer Circus (Suzie Sawyer's retirement part!!!)

May 15th

• Morning: Assist survivors at the host hotel

May 16th

• 8 am - 5 pm: Staff information tables
• 8 am - 5 pm: Assist survivors to conference sessions
• Afternoon: Teardown of conference space, info tables, etc.
• Afternoon: Setup for Hoedown at the Hilton (the survivor picnic that officially ends Police Week)

May 17th

• Morning: Reload the truck!!!

Join Us at the National Police Week 5K on May 14

On Saturday, May 14th, 2011, - right in the middle of Police Week - the fifth annual National Police Week 5K will be held in Washington, DC.

The event raises awareness and funds for the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) and Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). Like the previous runs, this year's event will be a sellout with over 2,200 runners and walkers expected to participate.

The 2011 NPW5K adds a new element not seen in previous years. This year, we're asking all participants to obtain pledges and donations from friends, family and fellow officers. Raising money is required to run, but we're asking you to support the cause! If each runner were to raise $50 from their friends and family the 5K organizers would be able to donate over $100,000 MORE to ODMP and C.O.P.S.

So, if you're already planning your trip to DC for Police Week, come and join the ODMP's Founder and Executive Director, Chris Cosgriff, at the 2011 National Police Week 5K.

Register early (before March 1st) and receive a $5 discount from the registration fee!

Event: National Police Week 5K
Date: Saturday, May 14th, 2011 (9:00 am)
Location: Washington, DC

Register Now