NCJ Number
93815
Date Published
1984
Length
31 pages
Annotation
From 1972 through 1982, nearly 23,000 Illinois law enforcement officers were assaulted or battered and 50 officers were killed during the conduct of official duties.
Abstract
Forty-four of the deaths resulted from felonious acts. Both assaults and killings have declined from the high levels of the late 1960's and early 1970's, whereas assaults against the public have increased by 80 percent between 1972 and 1982. Almost 60 percent of the total number of assaults were against Chicago police officers. Half of the officers who were feloniously killed were Chicago police officers. The deaths of police officers occurred during the investigation of some type of felony in almost half the cases, during traffic stops in 18 percent of the cases, during responses to disturbance calls for 16 percent, as a result of ambush in 11 percent, while handling prisoners in 5 percent, and while engaged in undercover activities in one case. Almost one-third of the assaults occurred during responses to disturbance calls. Most assaults occurred during the evening, night, and early morning hours. Nearly 80 percent of the officers who were assaulted were helped by other officers at the time of the attacks. In over nine-tenths of the assaults or killings, a suspect was identified. Figures, data tables, footnotes, and an appendix presenting a reporting form and instructions are included.