Key Observations

Eighteen felonious line-of-duty deaths were reported to the FBI as having occurred between January 2023 and April 2023. Sixteen of these deaths involved the use of a firearm, and two involved the use of a vehicle as a weapon. The leading circumstances surrounding the deaths were related to investigative/enforcement (six deaths) and pursuit (four deaths). The six felonious deaths reported for April 2023 reflect a 200% increase over April 2022, for which two felonious deaths were reported.

Eight accidental line-of-duty-deaths were reported to the FBI as having occurred between January 2023 and April 2023. Five of these deaths occurred due to motor vehicle accidents, two occurred due to aircraft crashes, and one occurred due to a fall. The absence of reported accidental line-of-duty deaths in April 2023 reflects a 100% decrease from April 2022, for which one accidental death was reported. 

The Midwest and Southern regions have the most law enforcement deaths in 2023, with nine reported deaths each.

Although not represented in the tables below, six officers died from medical conditions in 2023. Of these, one officer died from illnesses related to COVID-19, one officer died from conditions related to 9/11, two officers died from cancer, and two officers died due to other natural causes.

These statistics are preliminary and can change as the FBI's Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Program receives updates.

Officer Deaths by Year

Annual Felonious Death Total

Felonious Deaths through April, by Year

Annual Accidental Death Total

Accidental Deaths through April, by Year

Officer Deaths by Region

Midwest

• Felonious: 7
• Accidental: 2
  

Northeast

• Felonious: 4
• Accidental: 0

Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories

• Felonious: 0
• Accidental: 0
  

South

• Felonious: 4
• Accidental: 5
  

West

• Felonious: 3
• Accidental: 1
  
  

Circumstances of Officer Deaths

18 Felonious

• 1 Crime in progress (robbery, burglary, etc.)
• 1 Disorder/disturbance (domestic disturbance, civil disorder, etc.)
• 1 Encountering/assisting an emotionally disturbed person
• 6 Investigative/enforcement (drug-related matter, wanted person, traffic violation stop)
• 4 Pursuits
• 2 Tactical situations
• 2 Traffic control (crash scene, directing traffic, etc.)
• 1 Unprovoked attack
  

8 Accidental

• 5 Motor vehicle crash
  • 1 Escorting dignitary or funeral
    
  • 2 Patrolling
    
  • 1 Responding to emergency
  • 1 Other
• 1 Fall
  
• 2 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.: 2 felonious, 1 accidental
• 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.: 9 felonious, 3 accidental
• 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.: 2 felonious, 2 accidental
• Time Not Reported: 4 felonious, 2 accidental
• Off Duty*: 1 felonious, 0 accidental

*When an officer is not scheduled to be working at the time of the incident, but is present and acting under law enforcement authority

Location of Fatal Firearm Wound

Felonious Killing

• 1 Front head
  
• 2 Side head
• 1 Front lower torso/abdomen
  
• 1 Front below waist/groin area
• 11 Fatal wound location not reported
• 5 Officers confirmed wearing body armor

Weapons Used by Offender

18 Felonious Killings

• 16 Officers killed with firearms
  • 5 Handguns
  • 1 Rifle
    
  • 10 Not reported
    
• 2 Vehicles

Distance from Firearm: Felonious Killings

• 6-10 feet: 2
  
• 21-50 feet: 1
  
• Not reported: 12
• Unknown: 1

Clearances of Incidents

• 15 cleared
• 3 uncleared
• Clearance rate: 83.3%

Incidents and Victims: Felonious Killings

• 18 incidents
• 18 victims

FBI data on Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted is posted in the Crime Data Explorer.

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