FBI Releases Preliminary Data on Law Enforcement Officer Deaths from January through December 2022

The following is a graphic presentation of data regarding line-of-duty deaths, both felonious and accidental, collected from law enforcement agencies across the United States and U.S. territories by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Data Collection. This preliminary information is provided for officer safety studies, training, and other initiatives. The data are also published annually in the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted release. The below data is accurate as of 01/01/2023.

Key Observations
The 60 law enforcement officers feloniously killed in 2022 represent a 17.8% decrease compared to the 73 officers killed during 2021. Firearms were used in 81.7% of the felonious deaths in 2022, with 59.2% of the type of firearm used not currently reported. The leading circumstances surrounding officers’ deaths included activities related to ambushes on officers, investigative/enforcement activities, unprovoked attacks on officers, and responses to disorderly/disturbance calls. The 12 ambush attacks in 2022 are a 50% increase compared to the eight ambush attacks in 2021. Conversely, unprovoked attacks in 2022 (six) decreased by 75% compared to 2021 (24). Accidental law enforcement deaths increased by 3.6% in 2022 (58) compared to 2021 (56). The accidental deaths in 2022 were due primarily to motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian officers being struck by vehicles, and airplane crashes. The southern region had the most law enforcement deaths in 2022, with 65 deaths total (31 felonious, 34 accidental). Although not represented in the graphics below, 81 died in the line of duty in 2022 from the following medical conditions: 52 officers from illnesses related to COVID-19, 12 officers due to heart attacks, five officers from conditions as a result of responses to 9/11, and 12 officers due to other natural causes.

Officer Deaths by Year
A bar graph shows officer deaths by year. Numbers of felonious deaths are shown for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Numbers of accidental deaths are shown for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The number of felonious deaths for 2022 is 60. The number of felonious deaths for 2021 is 73. The number of felonious deaths for 2020 is 46. The number of felonious deaths for 2019 is 48. The number of felonious deaths for 2019 is 57. The number of accidental deaths for 2022 is 58. The number of accidental deaths for 2021 is 56. The number of accidental deaths for 2020 is 46. The number of accidental deaths for 2019 is 41. The number of accidental deaths for 2018 is 50.

YearFeloniousAccidental
20226058
20217356
20204646
20194841
20185750


Officer Deaths by Region
A map of the United States shows numbers of officer deaths by region. Regions are labeled and colored. For each region, the number of felonious and accidental deaths is shown.

The West region is shown as Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii. The number of felonious deaths in the West is 12. The number of accidental deaths in the West is 11.

The Midwest region is shown as North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. The number of felonious deaths in the Midwest is 11. The number of accidental deaths in the Midwest is six.

The South region is shown as Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. The number of felonious deaths in the South is 31. The number of accidental deaths in the South is 34.

The Northeast region is shown as Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Maine. The number of felonious deaths in the Northeast is six. The number of accidental deaths in the Northeast is seven.

The region of Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories is labeled, but the territories are not shown on the map. The number of felonious deaths in Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories is zero. The number of accidental deaths in Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories is zero.

RegionFeloniousAccidental
West1211
Midwest116
Northeast67
South3134
Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories00


Circumstances of Officer Deaths

CircumstanceNumber of Officer Deaths
Felonious60

Administrative assignment0

Ambush (entrapment/premeditation)12

Arrest situation1

Assisting another law enforcement officer3

Assisting motorist0

Citizen complaint0

Crime in progress (robbery, burglary, etc.)3

Disorder/disturbance (domestic disturbance, civil disorder, etc.)6

Encounter/assist an emotionally disturbed person4

Investigative/enforcement (Drug-related matter, wanted person, traffic violation stop)11

Out of service (court, dining, etc.)0

Providing/deploying equipment (flares, traffic cones, etc.)1

Pursuit4

Report of crime (robbery, burglary, etc.)1

Respond to alarm (audible/silent)0

Serving/attempting to serve court order (eviction notice, subpoena, etc.)2

Tactical situation6

Traffic control (crash scene, directing traffic, etc.)0

Unprovoked attack6

Other0
Accidental58

Motor vehicle crash35

Assisting/investigating vehicle crash0

Assisting motorist1

Engaging in vehicle pursuit3

Escorting dignitary or funeral1

Overseeing work zone0

Patrolling16

Performing traffic control4

Performing traffic stop0

Responding to emergency3

Responding to nonemergency6

Training0

Other5

Pedestrian officer struck by vehicle13

Assisting/investigating vehicle crash0

Assisting motorist0

Providing/deploying equipment0

Engaging in foot pursuit0

Overseeing work zone1

Patrolling0

Performing traffic control4

Performing traffic stop4

Training0

Other4

Drowning0

Fall2

Firearm-related incident2

Aircraft crash6


Time of Incident
Time of incidents is shown with a bar graph, and a clock graphic is shown alongside. Times are grouped by 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., Not reported, and Off Duty. Each time group is divided up into felonious and accidental categories. The number of felonious deaths from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. is 10. The number of accidental deaths from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. is three. The number of felonious deaths from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. is eight. The number of accidental deaths from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. is 18. The number of felonious deaths from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. is 14. The number of accidental deaths from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. is six. The number of felonious deaths with time not reported is 26. The number of accidental deaths with time not reported is 31. The number of felonious deaths off duty is 2. The number of accidental deaths off duty is zero.

Time CategoryFeloniousAccidental
7 a.m.-3 p.m.103
3 p.m.-11 p.m.818
11 p.m.-7 a.m.146
Not Reported2631
Off Duty20


Location of Fatal Firearm Wound
A list of wound locations for felonious killing shows the number of fatal wounds per body area. The number of fatal wounds in the front head is two. The number fatal wounds in the neck/throat is one. The number of fatal wounds with location of wound not reported is 44. The numbers of fatal wounds in the rear head; side head; shoulder (upper torso) area; rear upper torso/back; rear lower torso/back; front below waist/groin area; rear below waist/buttocks; arms/hands; front legs/feet; front legs; rear legs; and feet; and the number of situations involving multiple wound locations in which it wasn't possible to deem which wound was fatal, are all 0. A graphic shows a human figure with brackets dividing the body areas and the numbers of fatal wounds per area. The human figure’s head is bracketed with the number two. The human figure’s upper body is bracketed with the number three. The human figure’s lower body is bracketed with the number zero.

Body AreaNumber of Fatal Wounds
Front head2
Rear head0
Side head0
Neck/throat1
Shoulder (upper torso) area0
Front upper torso/chest1
Rear upper torso/back0
Front lower torso/abdomen1
Rear lower torso/back0
Front below waist/groin area0
Rear below waist/buttocks0
Arms/hands0
Front legs/feet0
Front legs0
Rear legs0
Feet0
Multiple locations, unable to determine fatal wound0
Fatal wound location not reported44


16 Officers Confirmed Wearing Body Armor

Weapons Used by Offender
A list of weapons used by offenders is shown with a graphic of a handgun. Categories of weapons are listed with number of killings per weapon category. The total number of felonious killings is 60. The total number of officers killed with firearms is 49. The number of officers killed with handguns is 12. The number of officers killed with rifles is seven. The number of officers killed with shotguns is zero. The number of officers killed with firearm types not reported is 29. The number of officers killed with an unknown type of firearm is one. The number of officers killed with vehicles is three. The number of officers killed with knives/cutting instruments is zero. The number of officers killed with personal weapons (hands, fists, etc.) is eight. The number of officers killed with blunt instruments (club, brick, etc.) is zero.

Weapon CategoryNumber of Felonious Killings
Total felonious killings60

Officers killed with firearms49

Handguns12

Rifles7

Shotguns0

Not reported29

Unknown1

Vehicles3

Knives/cutting instruments0

Personal weapons (hands, fists, etc.)8

Blunt instrument (club, brick, etc.)0


Distance from Firearm
A table lists the numbers of felonious killings with firearms at categories of distances. A graphic of a ruler appears to the side. The number of felonious killings at 0-5 feet is 3. The number of felonious killings at 6-10 feet is six. The number of felonious killings at 11 to 20 feet is zero. The number of felonious killings at 21 to 50 feet is two. The number of felonious killings at 51 or more feet is one. The number of felonious killings at a distance not reported is 34. The number of felonious killings at an unknown distance is three.

Distance CategoryNumber of Felonious Killings
0-5 feet3
6-10 feet6
11-20 feet0
21-50 feet2
51+ feet1
Not reported34
Unknown3


Clearances of Incidents
A table shows the numbers of cleared or uncleared felonious killings. The number of cleared felonious killings is 47. The number of uncleared felonious killings is 10. The percentage of felonious killings cleared is noted as 82.5.

Clearance StatusNumber of Felonious Killings
Cleared47
Uncleared10


Incidents and Victims
A table lists the numbers of incidents and victims in felonious killings. A graphic shows the logo of the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Program. The number of incidents is 57. The number of victims is 60.

Number of Incidents or VictimsNumber of Felonious Killings
Incidents57
Victims60