NCJ Number
174282
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 1998 Pages: 6-8-22
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
During the first half of 1998, 62 police officers were killed in the line of duty in the United States; in 1997, 176 police officers lost their lives.
Abstract
Of the 62 police officers killed in 1998, 24 were killed by gunfire, 15 were killed in vehicle accidents, 5 died from natural causes, 6 were killed by vehicles, 1 was killed in the course of an assault, and 11 were killed in other situations. Examples are provided that illustrate the impact of police officer deaths on families and communities and that highlight the importance of police safety in the conduct of duties. The survival mind-set must be the same for police officers whether on or off duty. Police officers need to remember there is no such thing as a routine call. They must mentally rehearse what they are going to do prior to responding to a call, must not take anything for granted or be complacent, and must wear their protective vests.