Editor's note: Through the end of the year, we will be posting a series of articles that focus on common-sense officer safety. Use them for briefing and squad meetings, and send them to everyone you know who wears a badge. Our first piece comes from Chris Cosgriff, the founder of the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Two years ago, the Below 100 campaign rolled out with what some thought was an unreachable goal: Suffering fewer than 100 line-of-duty deaths in a single year. Since its founding, literally thousands of officers across the nation have gone through Below 100 training and hundreds have been through the Below 100 Train-the-Trainer program. The results have been astounding. The Below 100 goal is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when”—and it’s possible that it will be achieved this year. That’s absolutely remarkable.
The great thing about Below 100 is that it addresses the leading causes of death at the highest levels and in simple terms, which empowers technical and tactical instructors to teach their officers in ways that comply with their departments’ general orders and training standards.
Perspective
To see the nationwide impact this program has had, we only have to look back in time a few years—but to get the full perspective, I’m going to take you all the way back to 1900 (some of you really old-timers may even remember that year). 1900 was one of only seven years in the entire 20th century in which there were fewer than 100 line-of-duty deaths (the other years were 1901, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1943 and 1944). In fact, there hasn’t been a single year since WWII (when most able-bodied men were overseas fighting in the war) that we have dropped below that milestone.
Let’s look at this another way. There has not been a year with fewer than 100 deaths since the most senior person on your department started his/her career—and quite likely since they were born!
How It Compares
The average number of annual LODDs in the 1900s was 175, with gunfire being the leading cause of death. Since 2000, the average number of annual deaths dropped to 167 as gunfire deaths dropped off significantly.
Unfortunately, vehicle-related deaths rose dramatically and have become the leading cause of death for LEOs. Heart attacks remained the third leading cause of death.
With only one month left to go in 2013, and only 92 deaths so far (as of the date this article was written), there is a solid chance there will be fewer than 100 deaths in 2013. However, December has historically been a deadly month and no one should drop their guard. After all, we know that complacency truly does kill!
Your Role
As we head into the most dangerous time of year for law enforcement officers—Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day—please remain hyper-vigilant to the top causes of death for law enforcement officers and do the common-sense things that will prevent the unimaginable from happening in your department:
1. Vehicle collisions: Wear seatbelts and slow down (especially in icy conditions)
2. Gunfire: Wear a vest and wait for backup
3. Heart attacks: Get a physical and have a heart checkup
Help keep up the momentum in safe practices by embracing the Below 100 tenets. Get everyone in your department to adhere to them and you may help give a family the best gift they can receive this holiday season: their loved one coming home at the end of the shift.
Let’s make history this year.