Statistics on Law Enforcement Officer Deaths in the Line of Duty in 2024

January 17, 2025

The 64 law enforcement officers feloniously killed in 2024 represent a 6.6 percent increase compared to the 60 officers killed during 2023. Firearms were used in 65.6 percent of the felonious deaths in 2024. The type of firearm used was not reported in 92.9 percent of the incidents.

Among officers killed with firearms, four were confirmed to have been wearing body armor. The leading circumstances surrounding officers’ deaths in felonious killings included activities related to investigative/enforcement activity (22), unprovoked attacks (8), ambushes (6), crimes in progress (5), and tactical situations (5). The 22 felonious killings related to investigative/enforcement activities in 2024 are a 37.5 percent increase compared to the 16 in 2023. Accidental law enforcement deaths increased 23.5 percent in 2024 (42) compared to 2023 (34). The accidental deaths in 2024 were due primarily to motor vehicle accidents (21). The southern region had the most law enforcement deaths in 2024, with 52 deaths total (28 felonious, 24 accidental). Additionally, 38 officers died in 2024 from the following medical conditions: natural causes (16), heart attacks (11), conditions as a result of responses to 9/11 (8), and cancer (3).

These statistics are preliminary and can change as agencies provide updates.

Total Annual Felonious Deaths

YearDeaths
202464
202360
202261
202173
202046


Total Annual Accidental Deaths

YearDeaths
202442
202334
202257
202156
202046


Officer Deaths By Region

Region
Felonious Deaths
Accidental Deaths
Midwest189
Northeast54
South2824
West124
Puerto Rico and Outlying Territories11


Circumstances of Officer Deaths

Felonious: 64

  • Investigative/enforcement (drug-related matter, wanted person, traffic violation stop): 22
  • Unprovoked attack: 8
  • Ambush: 6
  • Crime in progress (robbery, burglary, etc.): 5
  • Tactical situation: 5
  • Assisting another law enforcement officer: 4
  • Pursuit: 4
  • Traffic control (crash scene, directing traffic, etc.): 3
  • Disorder/disturbance (domestic disturbance, civil disorder, etc.): 2
  • Citizen Complaint: 2
  • Out of service (court, dining, etc.): 1
  • Other: 2

Accidental: 42

  • Motor vehicle crash: 21
    • Responding to emergency: 6
    • Engaging in vehicle pursuit: 4
    • Patrolling: 2
    • Performing traffic stop: 2
    • Assisting/investigating vehicle crash: 1
    • Escorting dignitary or funeral: 1
    • Other: 5
  • Pedestrian officer struck by vehicle: 9
    • Performing traffic stop: 4
    • Assisting/investigating vehicle crash: 3
    • Performing traffic control: 1
    • Providing/deploying equipment: 1
  • Aircraft crash: 2
  • Firearm-related incident: 2
  • Drowning: 1
  • Fall: 1
  • Other: 6

Felonious Officer Deaths by Month in 2023 and 2024

Month2023
2024
January32
February57
March45
April610
May64
June64
July106
August
410
September46
October30
November45
December55


Accidental Officer Deaths by Month in 2023 and 2024

Month20232024
January03
February36
March53
April010
May30
June24
July50
August43
September64
October13
November24
December32


Officer Deaths by Time of Incident

TimeFelonious DeathsAccidental Deaths
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.107
3 p.m. to 11 p.m.1412
11 p.m. to 7 a.m.85
Time not reported2818
Off duty40


Demographics of Officers Feloniously Killed

Race

  • White: 57
  • Black or African American: 7

Sex

  • Male: 63
  • Female: 1

Ethnicity

  • Not reported: 42
  • Not Hispanic or Latino: 20
  • Hispanic or Latino: 2


Demographics of Offenders

Race

  • White: 33
  • Black or African American: 23
  • Not reported: 9

Sex

  • Male: 59
  • Female: 6

Ethnicity:

  • Not reported: 62
  • Not Hispanic or Latino: 2
  • Hispanic or Latino: 1

Felonious Killings by Weapons Used by Offender

Firearm: 42

  • Not reported: 39
  • Handgun: 2
  • Unknown: 1

Vehicle: 12

Personal weapon (hands, fists, etc.): 9

Knife/cutting instrument: 1


Felonious Killings by Distance from Firearm

0-5 feet: 2

6-10 feet: 1

Not reported: 39


Felonious Killings by Location of Fatal Firearm Wound

Not reported: 40

Torso or arms: 1

Head or neck: 1


Felonious Killings by Number of Victims and Incidents

Victims: 64

Incidents: 62