In February 2023, four law enforcement officers were feloniously killed, the same number as in February 2022. Firearms were used in all the felonious deaths, while the circumstances surrounding the officers’ deaths included activities related to encounter/assist and emotionally disturbed person (1), investigative/enforcement (1), and pursuits (2). The three law enforcement officers accidentally killed in February 2023 marked a 25 percent decrease from the four accidentally killed in February 2022. The accidental deaths in February 2023 were due primarily to motor vehicle crashes while patrolling (2) and from a fall (1). The Northeast region had the most law enforcement deaths in February 2023 with two felonious deaths. The Midwest, South, and West regions each reported one accidental law enforcement death in the month of February. Two officers died from the following medical conditions in February 2023: One law enforcement officer died due to cancer, and one officer died from other natural causes.

Officer Deaths by Year

Annual Felonious Total

Felonious Deaths through February by Year

Annual Accidental Total

Accidental Deaths through February by Year

Officer Deaths by Region

Midwest

• Felonious: 1
• Accidental: 1
  

Northeast

• Felonious: 3
• Accidental: 0

Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories

• Felonious: 0
• Accidental: 0
  

South

• Felonious: 1
• Accidental: 1
  

West

• Felonious: 2
• Accidental: 1
  
  

Circumstances of Officer Deaths

7 Felonious

• 0 Administrative assignment
• 0 Ambush (entrapment/premeditation)
• 0 Arrest situation
• 0 Assisting another law enforcement officer
• 0 Assisting motorist
• 0 Citizen complaint
• 0 Crime in progress (robbery, burglary, etc.)
• 1 Disorder/disturbance (domestic disturbance, civil disorder, etc.)
• 1 Encounter/assist an emotionally disturbed person
• 2 Investigative/enforcement (Drug-related matter, wanted person, traffic violation stop)
• 0 Out of service (court, dining, etc.)
• 0 Providing/deploying equipment (flares, traffic cones, etc.)
• 3 Pursuit
• 0 Report of crime (robbery, burglary, etc.)
• 0 Respond to alarm (audible/silent)
• 0 Serving/attempting to serve court order (eviction notice, subpoena, etc.)
• 0 Tactical situation
• 0 Traffic control (crash scene, directing traffic, etc.)
• 0 Unprovoked attack
• 0 Other

3 Accidental

• 2 Motor vehicle crash
  • 0 Assisting/investigating vehicle crash
  • 0 Assisting motorist
  • 0 Engaging in vehicle pursuit
  • 0 Escorting dignitary or funeral
  • 0 Overseeing work zone
  • 2 Patrolling
  • 0 Performing traffic stop
  • 0 Responding to emergency
  • 0 Responding to nonemergency
  • 0 Training
  • 0 Other
• 0 Pedestrian officer struck by vehicle
  • 0 Assisting/investigating vehicle crash
  • 0 Assisting motorist
  • 0 Providing/deploying equipment
  • 0 Engaging in foot pursuit
  • 0 Overseeing work zone
  • 0 Patrolling
  • 0 Performing traffic control
  • 0 Performing traffic stop
  • 0 Training
  • 0 Other
• 0 Drowning
• 1 Fall
• 0 Firearm-related incident
• 0 Aircraft crash

Officer Deaths by Month in 2022 and 2023

2023 Felonious Deaths

2023 Accidental Deaths

2022 Felonious Deaths

2022 Accidental Deaths

Time of Incident

• 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.: 1 Felonious, 1 Accidental
• 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.: 2 Felonious, 1 Accidental
• 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.: 1 Felonious, 0 Accidental
• Time Not Reported: 3 Felonious, 1 Accidental
• Off Duty: 0 Felonious, 0 Accidental

Location of Fatal Firearm Wound

Felonious Killing

• 0 Front head
• 0 Rear head
• 0 Side head
• 0 Neck/throat
• 0 Shoulder (upper torso) area
• 0 Front upper torso/chest
• 0 Rear upper torso/back
• 1 Front lower torso/abdomen
• 0 Rear lower torso/back
• 0 Front below waist/groin area
• 0 Rear below waist/buttocks
• 0 Arms/hands
• 0 Front legs/feet
• 0 Front legs
• 0 Rear legs
• 0 Feet
• 0 Multiple locations, unable to determine fatal wound
• 6 Fatal wound location not reported
• 1 Officers confirmed wearing body armor

Weapons Used by Offender

7 Felonious Killings

• 7 Officers killed with firearms
  • 4 Handguns
  • 0 Rifles
  • 0 Shotguns
  • 3 Not reported
  • 0 Unknown
• 0 Vehicles
• 0 Knives/cutting instruments
• 0 Personal weapons (hands, fists, etc.)
• 0 Blunt instrument (club, brick, etc.)

Distance from Firearm: Felonious Killings

• 0-5 feet: 0
• 6-10 feet: 1
• 11-20 feet: 0
• 21-50 feet: 0
• 51+ feet: 0
• Not reported: 5
• Unknown: 0

Clearances of Incidents

• 5 Cleared
• 2 Uncleared
• Clearance rate: 71.4 percent

Incidents and Victims: Felonious Killings

• 7 Incidents
• 7 Victims

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