NCJ Number
121296
Date Published
1989
Length
11 pages
Annotation
To estimate trends in the number of police officers killed in drug-related situations, this study examined the FBI's annual "Law Enforcement Officers Assaulted and Killed Summary" reports published since 1972.
Abstract
The police deaths estimated involved situations where the officers were attempting to enforce drug laws. Officer deaths were not counted if they only involved a killer under the influence of drugs, a killer who was a known or past drug dealer, or a killer in possession of drugs. Only seven officers a year, on average, were murdered in drug-related situations from 1972 through 1988, thus revealing a low risk of death per drug arrest. The most common circumstances in which officers were killed were undercover enforcement and drug raids, usually under a search or arrest warrant. Viewed in terms of total deaths, there is limited evidence of an upward trend in drug-related police deaths; but viewed in terms of the proportion of officer deaths as well as the risk per drug arrest in recent years, there is evidence of a trend toward more drug-related officer deaths. In 1988 there were more such officer deaths than in any year since the FBI began publishing reports in 1972. 3 tables, 3 figures, appended narratives of police killed in drug-related situations, 1972-1988.