NCJ Number
177422
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 66 Issue: 5 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 45-51
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The author notes law enforcement officers and their families throughout the United States gathered in Washington, D.C., in May 1999 to pay tribute to 155 fellow officers who died in the line of duty during 1998, and examines issues associated with police deaths and ways to prevent them.
Abstract
Despite the dedication and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, dangers facing police officers continue to escalate. Police administrators have enhanced the delivery of police services through the innovative use of resources and personnel, community-oriented policing programs have been strengthened, and technology has improved the ability of police officers to survive violent attacks. As of April 1, 1999, 2,325 incidents have been documented in which police officers have survived serious injury by wearing personal body armor. Further, the probability of a firearms-related fatality for a police officer not wearing personal body armor is 14 times higher than for a police officer who is wearing such armor. Personal accounts of police officers who have survived potentially fatal events are included. 1 photograph