Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 4034 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: FEBRUARY 2017 L aw enforcement fatalities nation- wide rose to their highest level in five years in 2016, with 135 officers killed in the lineofduty,accordingtopre- liminary data compiled by the National Law Enforce- ment Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). The 135 officer fatalities in 2016 is a 10 percent increase over the 123 who died in the line of duty last year and is the highest total since 2011, when 177 officers made the ultimate sacrifice. Firearms-related incidents were the number one cause of death in 2016, with 64 of- ficers shot and killed across the country. This represents a significant spike—56 per- cent—over the 41 officers killed by gunfire in 2015. Of the 64 shooting deaths of officers this year, 21 were the result of ambush-style attacks—the highest total in more than two decades. Eight multiple-shooting death incidents claimed the lives of 20 officers in 2016, tied with 1971 for the highest total of any year since 1932. Those incidents included fiveofficerskilledinambush attacks in Dallas (TX) and three in Baton Rouge (LA), spanning 10 days in July. Fifty-three officers were killed in traffic-related inci- dents in 2016, which was 10 percent more than the 48 killed on roadways in 2015. Of the 53 traffic-related deaths, 28 died in automo- bile crashes, 15 were struck and killed while outside of their vehicle, and 10 were killed in motorcycle crashes. Prior to 2016, traf- fic-related incidents have been the number one cause of officer fatalities in 15 of the last 20 years. Eighteen officers died from other causes in 2016, including 11 who died from job-related illnesses—mostly heartattacks—whileperform- ing their duties. Other causes included beatings (3), a drowning, a fall, an aircraft crash and a stabbing. Among the states, Texas had the highest number of officer fatalities, with 17, fol- lowed by California with 10, Louisianawithnine,Georgia with eight, and Michigan with six. Six federal law enforce- ment officers died in the line of duty in 2016, along with four from the U.S. territory ofPuertoRicoandonetribal officer. Six of the fallen officers in 2016 were female. Among the officers who died this year, the average age was 40 and the average length of service was 13 years. Therearecurrently20,789 namesofofficerskilledinthe line of duty inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Wash- ington, DC, dating back to thefirstknowndeathin1791. Over the past decade (2006- 2015) the average annual number of officer fatalities has been 151. The deadliest year on record for law enforcement was 1930 when 307 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. The last time officer fatali- ties dipped below 100 for a single year was 1944. Firearms-related Fatalities Handguns were the lead- ing type of firearm used in fatal shootings of law enforcement officers this year. However, there was a marked increase in officers killed with rifles. Of the 64 firearms-related fatalities, 53 percent, or 34 officers, were shot and killed with a handgun. Twenty-five officers were killed with a rifle, compared to five in 2015. Two officers were killed with a shotgun, and the type of firearm used in three of the cases is currently unknown. Of the 64 firearms-re- lated fatalities in 2016, 21 officers were shot and killed without warning in ambush-style shoot- ings. This number is 163 percent higher than 2015 when eight officers were shot and killed in ambush- style attacks. Multiple-shooting death incidents claimed the lives of 20 officers in 2016, the highest total of any year since 1932. 135 Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Nationwide in 2016; 64 officers shot and killed – 21 were ambushed Very Deadly Year In The Line of Duty Continued on next page