April 10 marked 100 days of 2013 and we’ve lost 33 officers so far in the line of duty. If you were to extrapolate that number on an annual basis, you would come in at 120. That’s the same as the number lost in 2012. The good news is that 2012 was the lowest in more than 50 years (the 1958 LODD total was 112). The bad news is that we are actually ahead of where we were the same time last year and we need to make serious changes if we’re going to reach our goal of a year with fewer than 100 officers lost.
Some areas to note for 2013:
- We have lost seven officers to duty-related heart attacks so far this year. That is more than the entire number for 2012 (six).
- The age of our fallen officers appears to be higher, dispelling the common misconception that the younger, more inexperienced officers are more frequently lost. As an example, of the 10 officers lost in March, the average age was 50-plus. The average experience level of losses for 2013 has been 15 years.
- The state of California has lost seven so far this year, compared to two for all of 2012 (truly remarkable). Of these seven, six of the seven were from gunfire and three officers from three different agencies were slain by one gunman over the course of several days.
- Eight of these officers were involved in corrections, underscoring the challenge faced by our correctional brethren.
- Five of the losses were at an executive level, serving as a director, chief or sheriff of their respective agencies.
- At least three of the losses in 2013 were officers who were shot while sitting in their patrol car. All of these murders took place at relatively short range.
We're still suffering a significant level of loss that could best be termed “preventable.” The unfortunate reality of law enforcement is that we will experience some level of loss but LODDs that are predictable and therefore preventable should be something we all address and strive to prevent. It is up to each of you to have the courageous conversation with those officers who are not using common sense officer safety tactics or who are failing to use basic safety equipment such as seat belts and armor. We can make a difference–we proved that in 2012 with a LODD toll that was a 50-plus year low. Let’s work to make 2013 an even better and safer year!
Please, for the sake of your families, let’s engage the basic tenets of Below 100:
- Wear your belt.
- Wear your vest.
- Watch your speed.
- W.I.N. – What’s Important Now?
- Remember: Complacency kills!
It's appropriate to honor the fallen but we must educate the living so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past. By working together and holding each other accountable, we can make a difference. The progress we have made in officer safety should be viewed as hard fought ground that we won't give up. For more information on Below 100, go to www.Below100.com.