| A Disturbing Trend Concerning Officer Safety |
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It is always a sad occasion, but this year we were able to report a glimmer of good news. In 2004, for the third year in a row, our tally of 154 deaths was well below the decade-long average of 164 annual fatalities. Preliminary data shows that there were two primary causes of death this past year. Fifty-seven of the officers were shot to death, and 51 died in automobile accidents. While it is true that more than half of all law enforcement fatalities throughout history have been the result of shootings, the number of officers killed by firearms has dropped by 36 percent over the past three decades – a result of better training and equipment, especially the increased use of bullet-resistant vests, and less-lethal weapons like Taser stun guns that help subdue criminal suspects resisting arrest. Tougher criminal justice has also helped because repeat violent offenders stay behind bars for longer periods of time. As a result, the public is safer and so are the police. But there is a disturbing trend hidden in these numbers. Many more officers than ever before are dying in car accidents. While shooting deaths have declined by 36 percent over the past three decades, the number of officers killed in automobile accidents during that same period has risen by 40 percent. Better driver training for law enforcement personnel is an essential component to stemming this dangerous trend. A study several years ago showed that some law enforcement agencies were providing no high speed driver training for their officers, while still others were providing only a bare minimum. Policies governing high speed pursuits have received careful scrutiny in recent years and further reflection is necessary to determine when it is appropriate for officers to chase after fleeing automobiles, and what less dangerous options might exist. Safer automobiles will also make an important difference. Fire prevention products and better equipment in vehicles could reduce the risk of fires caused by a crash. Improved safety restraint systems that are both practical and effective should also be considered so that officers are given maximum protection in the event of an accident. Stepped-up measures in each of these areas can go a long way toward reducing deaths and injuries among the men and women who protect our communities. Ultimately it will be up to the practitioners, the trainers and the policy-makers to determine the best ways to improve safety. In the meantime, we must do all that we can to honor and remember the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect. Craig W. Floyd is Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund in Washington, D.C. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          |
