Key Observations

Sixty law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2023. This total represents a 1.6% decrease from 2022, for which 61 felonious line-of-duty deaths were reported. The leading circumstances surrounding the felonious line-of-duty-deaths included activities related to investigation or enforcement (16), crimes-in-progress (nine), pursuits (seven), and ambushes (seven).

Sixteen of the felonious deaths were related to investigation or enforcement. This total reflects a 45.5% increase over 2022, for which 11 investigative/enforcement-related deaths were reported.

Seventy-five percent of the felonious deaths in 2023 involved the use of firearms. Agencies didn't report the types of firearms used in 64.4% of these deaths. Agencies reported that officers were wearing body armor in 15 of the firearm-related fatalities in 2023.

Thirty-four law enforcement officers died under accidental circumstances in the line of duty in 2023. This reflects a 40.4% decrease from 2022, for which 57 accidental line-of-duty deaths were reported to the FBI.

Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of accidental officer deaths in 2023, accounting for 23 fatalities.

The Southern region had the most law enforcement deaths in 2023, with 44 total fatalities. Twenty of these deaths were felonious, and 24 were accidental.

Although not represented in the tables below, 26 additional officers died in the line of duty in 2023 from medical conditions. Thirteen died of natural causes, six died of heart attacks, three died of 9/11-related conditions, two died of cancer, and two died of illness related to COVID-19.

These statistics are based on reports that the FBI received by December 31, 2023. The statistics could change as the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Program receives updates. 

Officer Deaths by Year

Felonious Deaths, 2019–2023

Accidental Deaths, 2019–2023 

Officer Deaths by Region

South

• Felonious: 20 
• Accidental: 24

Midwest

• Felonious: 16
• Accidental: 3

West

• Felonious: 12
• Accidental: 5

Northeast

• Felonious: 10
• Accidental: 1

Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories 

• Felonious: 2
• Accidental: 1

Circumstances of Officer Deaths

60 Felonious

• 16 Investigative/enforcement (drug-related matter, wanted person, traffic violation stop) 
• 9 Crimes in progress (robbery, burglary, etc.) 
• 7 Ambushes (entrapment/premeditation) 
• 7 Pursuits 
• 5 Assisting another law enforcement officer 
• 3 Arrest situations 
• 3 Tactical situations 
• 2 Disorder/disturbance (domestic disturbance, civil disorder, etc.) 
• 2 Encounter/assist an emotionally disturbed person 
• 2 Traffic control (crash scene, directing traffic, etc.) 
• 2 Unprovoked attacks 
• 1 Administrative assignment 
• 1 Serving/attempting to serve court order (eviction notice, subpoena, etc.) 

34 Accidental

• 23 Motor vehicle crashes 
  • 11 Patrolling 
  • 6 Responding to emergency 
  • 3 Responding to nonemergency 
  • 1 Escorting dignitary or funeral 
  • 2 Other 
• 4 Pedestrian officers struck by vehicle 
  • 1 Assisting/investigating vehicle crash 
  • 1 Training 
  • 2 Other 
• 2 Aircraft crash 
• 2 Falls 
• 1 Drowning 
• 1 Firearm-related incident 
• 1 Other 

Officer Deaths by Month in 2022 and 2023

2023 Felonious Deaths

2023 Accidental Deaths

2022 Felonious Deaths

2022 Accidental Deaths

Details of Incidents in 2023

Time of Incident

• 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.—9 felonious, 5 accidental 
• 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.—21 felonious, 9 accidental 
• 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.—8 felonious, 10 accidental 
• Time Not Reported—20 felonious, 9 accidental 
• Off Duty*—2 felonious, 1 accidental 

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

Demographics of Officers Feloniously Killed

• Race
  • 56 White
  • 3 Black or African American
  • 1 Not reported
    
• Sex
  • 54 Male
  • 6 Female
    
• Ethnicity
  • 47 Not Hispanic or Latino
  • 3 Hispanic or Latino
  • 10 Not reported
    

Demographics of Offenders in Felonious Killings

• Race
  • 14 White
  • 7 Black or African American
  • 48 Not reported
    
• Sex
  • 69 Male
    
• Ethnicity
  • 11 Hispanic or Latino
  • 4 Not Hispanic or Latino
  • 54 Not reported

Location of Fatal Firearm Wound: Felonious Killings

• 6 Head or neck
• 4 Torso or arms
• 2 Abdomen or legs
• 33 Fatal wound locations not reported
  

Weapons Used by Offender: Felonious Killings

• 45 Officers killed with firearms
  • 9 Handguns
  • 5 Rifles
    
  • 1 Shotgun
  • 1 Unknown
  • 29 Not reported
    
• 11 Vehicles
• 2 Personal weapon (hands, fists, etc.)
• 2 Other

Distance from Firearm: Felonious Killings

• 0-5 feet: 3
• 6-10 feet: 3
  
• 11-20 feet: 1
• 21-50 feet: 1
  
• 51+ feet: 1
• Not reported: 31
• Unknown: 5

Overall Numbers of Incidents and Victims

• Incidents: 59
• Victims: 60

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

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