What is the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers in the United States?
(a) shootings
(b) job-related illnesses
(c) traffic-related incidents
(d) bomb-related incidents
The answer by far is (c), traffic related accidents. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 154 law enforcement officers across the nation were killed in the line of duty during 2004. 72 were died in traffic-related incidents (51 officers killed in automobile accidents, 12 were struck and killed by vehicles during traffic stops and while assisting at accident scenes, and nine were killed in motorcycle accidents.) 57 died in shootings.
In addition,
11 officers succumbed to job-related illnesses; three died in aircraft accidents; three drowned; three died in bomb-related incidents; two fell to their deaths; one was beaten to death; one was electrocuted; and one was struck by a falling object. Of the 154 federal, state and local officers who died last year, eight were female.National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Chairman Craig W. Floyd is calling for
Better driver training, safer automobiles, and the increased use of bullet-resistant vests and less-lethal weapons are just some of the measures that must be taken to help prevent our officers from being killed while preserving public safety.One of the job related illnesses that kill law enforcement officers is workplace stress. According to an article on the NLEOMF website:
500 law officers...have died in the performance of duty from either a heart attack or some form of stroke. This represents about three percent of the more than 16,500 officers who are honored on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Approximately 90 heart attack and stroke cases have been added to the Memorial in the last 10 years.