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Monday, December 30, 2013

Law Enforcement Fatalities Dip to Lowest Level in Six Decades

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- 33 officers killed in firearms-related incidents is fewest since 1887
Law enforcement officer fatalities dropped for the second year in a row to the lowest level in six decades and the number of officers killed in firearms-related incidents this year was the fewest since the 1800s, according to preliminary data compiled and released today in an annual research bulletin published by the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
According to the report, 111 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty nationwide in 2013. This was the fewest number of fatalities for the law enforcement profession since 1959 when 110 officers died. This year's total was eight percent fewer than 2012 when 121 officers made the ultimate sacrifice.
The number one cause of officer fatalities in 2013 was traffic-related incidents, which claimed 46 lives. Thirty-three officers were killed in firearms-related incidents this past year, which was a 33 percent drop from 2012 and is the lowest number since 1887 when 27 officers were shot to death. Thirty-two officers died due to other causes in 2013, including 14 who suffered heart attacks while performing their duties.
Just two years ago, officer fatalities spiked to 169, which led to a number of new initiatives aimed at promoting law enforcement safety. Among them were: an increasing number of agencies requiring officers to wear bullet-resistant vests; the formation of the National Officer Safety and Wellness Group by the U.S. Department of Justice; and the VALOR program launched by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to provide training to help prevent violence against officers and to help officers survive violent encounters when they do occur. Since 2011, all categories of officer fatalities have dropped by 34 percent and firearms-related deaths have declined by 54 percent.
The statistics released by the NLEOMF are based on preliminary data compiled and do not represent a final or complete list of individual officers who will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2014.
For a complete copy of the preliminary report on 2013 law enforcement fatalities, go to:www.LawMemorial.org/ResearchBulletin .
Key Data as of December 29, 2013:
-- Traffic-related incidents declined 4 percent in 2013 (46) compared to 2012 (48). Of these 46 officers, 31 were killed in auto crashes, 11 were struck outside their vehicle, and four were killed in motorcycle crashes.
-- Firearms-related fatalities declined by 33 percent in 2013 (33) compared to 2012 (49). Of the 33 officers, seven officers were shot and killed in ambush attacks, six officers were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call, five officers were killed while conducting an investigative activity, three officers were killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call, three officers were feloniously killed during a traffic stop, three officers were shot and killed while responding to a robbery in progress and three officers were killed while attempting to arrest a suspect. Two officers were inadvertently shot and killed and one officer was killed during a burglary in progress.
-- Of the 32 officers who died due to other causes, 18 were caused by job-related illnesses; six officers fell to their death or died as a result of an injury sustained in a fall, two officers drowned while attempting to assist victims during a flash flood, two officers were stabbed to death, one officer was killed in a helicopter crash, one officer was killed in a boat related accident, one officer was killed by an explosive device and an officer was electrocuted.
-- During the past year, more officers were killed in Texas (13) than any other state; followed by California (10); Mississippi and New York (7); and Arkansas (6).
-- Nine officers killed in 2013 served with federal law enforcement agencies. Nine of the officers who died during the past year served with correctional agencies. Four of the 111 fatalities were female. On average, the officers who died in 2013 were 42 years old and had served for 13 years.
Supporting Quote:
"The only good news is zero deaths, but this very significant drop in law enforcement fatalities the past two years is extremely encouraging," declared NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd. "Our organization, in partnership with others, is working hard to create a new culture of safety in law enforcement that no longer accepts deaths and injuries as an unavoidable part of the job. This year's officer fatality report is strong evidence that this intensified effort to promote law enforcement safety is making a difference."
About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers and to promoting officer safety. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 19,981 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now working to create the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of law enforcement in America through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visitwww.LawMemorial.org .
CONTACT: Steve Groeninger(202) 737-7135steve@nleomf.org
SOURCE National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Copyright (C) 2013 PR Newswire. All rights reserved 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

AZ: Valley law enforcement groups tout Blue Alert system

Valley law enforcement groups tout Blue Alert system

PHOENIX - You've heard of an Amber Alert, the call that goes out when a child is missing. Law enforcement groups in Arizona are touting a similar system for officers called a Blue Alert. 

"John was a sergeant with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.  He was killed August 31st, 1990," his wife, Jan Blaser-Upchurch said.

Sgt. Blaser was killed by a drunk driver while on duty.

"The loss was tremendous. John and I had just celebrated our third wedding anniversary. He was 36 years old," Jan said.

His name joins dozens of others at the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial. His death inspired Jan to help others. She joined C.O.P.S., or Concerns of Police Survivors.

The group is teaming up with the Arizona Highway Patrol Association to bring Blue Alerts to our state.

"The information can get out there much quicker," Jan said.

It's a system designed to let people know right away if an officer has been hurt or killed and police are still searching for the suspect, kind of like how an Amber Alert lets us know right away about a missing child.
"As many of us know, communication is very different from agency to agency," Jan said.

The Blue Alert would erase the problems of communication barriers between departments, making it easier to catch the bad guys. It's already being used in 18 states.

"California is one, Utah and Colorado, some of our states right around us," Jan said.
She hopes this year our state lawmakers will give Blue Alert the green light.


Story by Elizabeth Erwin of KPHO-TV, ABC15
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/Valley-law-enforcement-groups-tout-Blue-Alert-system