National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Releases Its Mid-Year Report on Officer Fatalities

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has released its Mid-Year Report of law enforcement officer fatalities. As the nationwide authority of line-of-duty deaths, NLEOMF releases reports each year that include officer fatality numbers and other statistics relevant to law enforcement.

This year’s Mid-Year Report indicates a significant increase in officer deaths and could potentially be the deadliest year for law enforcement on record, if trends continue.

So far in 2021, there have been 155 line-of-duty officer deaths. COVID-19 continues to be the number-one cause of death, reaching 71 officers so far this year. The report also notes that traffic fatalities are up 58%, with the leading cause being officers struck by vehicles, currently numbering 19 fatalities. This equals the entire number of struck-by fatalities in 2020.

Texas has the highest number of officer deaths at 25, followed by 15 federal agency deaths. Other states near the top of the list include Georgia (13 deaths), California (13 deaths), and Florida (10 deaths). Out of 155 line-of-duty death cases in 2021, 33 officers were feloniously killed. This includes 28 gunfire cases, three beatings, and two stabbings.

Keeping Officers Names off the WallIn addition to the Fatality Report, NLEOMF has issued an addendum to the report, Keeping Names Off the Wall: Improving Officer Safety and Wellness. This document, provides more than 50 resources aimed at improving officer safety and wellness.

To view the full Fatality Report and addendum, visit https://nleomf.org/facts-figures/fatalities-reports.

The Destination Zero Program provides officer safety and wellness resources to carry out our mission. The Destination Zero Program is made possible by VerizonFrontline.