More law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty during 1995 than in any other year this decade, according to preliminary figures released on February 6th, 1996, by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS).

The two groups reported that there were 162 line of duty fatalities in 1995. This is the second year in a row that the number of police deaths has risen, and it is the highest death total for a single year since 1989 when 190 officers were killed. There were 157 law enforcement fatalities in 1994, 147 in 1993, 154 in 1992, 144 in 1991 and 151 in 1990. These figures include all federal, state and local law enforcers, as well as correctional officers.

For the second straight year, California was the deadliest state in the nation for the law enforcement profession, with 18 police fatalities. That is double the number recorded by any other state. California was followed by Florida and New Jersey with nine deaths each, Texas with Eight, New York with 7, and Alabama and Arizona with 6. A total of 17 federal law enforcement officers lost their lives in 1995, including 12 in the Oklahoma City terrorist bombing on April 18--the single deadliest day in law enforcement history.

NLEOMF chairman Craig W Floyd blamed the rising threat to our police officers on "a new breed of juvenile killers who are the product of poor parenting, a lenient criminal justice system that fails to keep our most violent offenders behind bars, and easy criminal access to firearms". Floyd cited figures kept by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which show that between 1984 and 1993 there were 94 cop killers under 18 years of age; 220 of the persons who murdered a police officer were on parole or probation at the time of the killing; and firearms claimed the lives of 91 percent of those officers who were feloniously killed.

"The fatality figures only tell part of the story", Floyd added. "Every year in our country more than 66,000 officers are assaulted by criminals and some 24,000 are injured".

COPS national president Sue Lange declared, "Officers are too often the target for the lawless Americans' bullets and are quickly criticized for their actions by the media and citizens who would never consider joining the profession. Are officers hesitating to take appropriate action to save their own lives because of the critizism? Is that why more officers are dying? Law enforcement families thank those Americans who support the cop on the beat", Lange said. "It is truly a very difficult profession".

Of the 159 officers who died in 1995, 82 were killed by felonious assault (71 by firearm), and 80 died from accidental causes while on duty, such as aricraft and automobile crshes. On average, the officers who died during 1995 were 37 years old and had served for nine years. Four of the officers killed were women.

"Police officers must wear their bullet resistant vests", warned Floyd. He cited figures kept by the DuPont Company, which show that more than 150 police lives are saved each year by the soft body armor. Many officers, though, are not heeding this warning. According to figures kept by the FBI, only about 30 percent of the officers killed with a firearm between 1984 and 1993 were wearing body armor. Floyd said NLEOMF records indicate that the number of officers wearing vests at the time of their death rose to about 50 percent in 1995, "but that is still 50 percent to few" he added.

COPS and NLEOMF credited the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department's Public Safety Officer's Benefits program office for assisting them in identifying law enforcement fatality cases nationwide.

Memorial services for the officers who died in 1995 will be held in Washington, D.C., during National Police Week, which is May 12-18 this year. Grief counseling seminars for the survivors of those officers will also be held during that time. The names of the fallen officers will be officially added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at a candlelight ceremony on May 13. A Further review of all 1995 fatality cases will be conducted by NLEOMF before the final count is made offical. For more information about Police week activities, contact NLEOMF at 202-737-3400 or COPS at 314-346-4911.

Credits: The above statement was taken from the NLEOMF and COPS media release dated Tuesday, February 6, 1996.