Key Observations

Eleven law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in the first quarter of 2023—a 31.3% decrease from the first quarter of 2022. Firearms were used in all but one of the felonious deaths in 2023. Four of the deaths in 2023 were related to investigation and/or enforcement, and three were related to pursuit.

Seven law enforcement officers died under accidental circumstances in the line of duty in the first quarter of 2023—a 65% decrease from the first quarter of 2022. Four of these accidental deaths were due to motor vehicle accidents, two were due to an aircraft crash, and one was due to a fall.

To date, the Midwest region has had the most felonious line-of-duty deaths in 2023 (four deaths), while the South has had the most accidental line-of-duty deaths (five deaths). 2023 had the lowest first-quarter line-of-duty-death total (felonious deaths plus accidental deaths) in the last five calendar years.

Although not represented in the tables below, four law enforcement officers died from medical conditions in the first quarter of 2023. Their causes of death were, as follows:

• Two officers died due to cancer.
• One officer died from illnesses related to COVID-19.
• One officer died from other natural causes.

Officer Deaths by Year

Annual Felonious Death Total

Felonious Deaths through March, by Year

Annual Accidental Death Total

Accidental Deaths through March, by Year

Officer Deaths by Region - First Quarter of 2023

Midwest

• Felonious: 4
• Accidental: 1
  

Northeast

• Felonious: 3
• Accidental: 0

Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories

• Felonious: 0
• Accidental: 0
  

South

• Felonious: 2
• Accidental: 5
  

West

• Felonious: 2
• Accidental: 1
  
  

Circumstances of Officer Deaths - First Quarter of 2023

11 Felonious

• 0 Administrative assignment
• 0 Ambush (entrapment/premeditation)
• 0 Arrest situation
• 0 Assisting another law enforcement officer
• 0 Assisting motorist
• 0 Citizen complaint
• 1 Crime in progress (robbery, burglary, etc.)
• 1 Disorder/disturbance (domestic disturbance, civil disorder, etc.)
• 1 Encountering/assisting an emotionally disturbed person
• 4 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 Responding to alarm (audible/silent)
• 0 Serving/attempting to serve court order (eviction notice, subpoena, etc.)
• 0 Tactical situation
• 1 Traffic control (crash scene, directing traffic, etc.)
• 0 Unprovoked attack
• 0 Other

7 Accidental

• 4 Motor vehicle crash
  • 0 Assisting/investigating vehicle crash
  • 0 Assisting motorist
  • 0 Engaging in vehicle pursuit
  • 1 Escorting dignitary or funeral
  • 0 Overseeing work zone
  • 2 Patrolling
  • 0 Performing traffic stop
  • 0 Responding to emergency
  • 0 Responding to nonemergency
  • 0 Training
  • 1 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
• 2 Aircraft crash

Officer Deaths by Month in 2022 and 2023

Felonious Deaths in 2023

Accidental Deaths in 2023

Felonious Deaths in 2022

Accidental Deaths in 2022

Time of Incident - First Quarter of 2023

• 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.: 2 felonious, 1 accidental
• 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.: 5 felonious, 3 accidental
• 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.: 1 felonious, 2 accidental
• Time Not Reported: 3 felonious, 1 accidental
• Off Duty: No felonious or accidental deaths

Location of Fatal Firearm Wound - First Quarter of 2023

Felonious Killing

• 1 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
• 1 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
• 7 Fatal wound location not reported
• 3 Officers confirmed wearing body armor

Weapons Used by Offender - First Quarter of 2023

11 Felonious Killings

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

Distance from Firearm: Felonious Killings - First Quarter of 2023

• 0-5 feet: 0
• 6-10 feet: 1
• 11-20 feet: 0
• 21-50 feet: 1
• 51+ feet: 0
• Not reported: 7
• Unknown: 1

Clearances of Incidents - First Quarter of 2023

• 9 cleared
• 2 uncleared
• Clearance rate: 81.8%

Incidents and Victims: Felonious Killings - First Quarter of 2023

• 11 incidents
• 11 victims

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

Return to CJIS Link Home