Page:Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted 1997.pdf/9

 Two officers in 1997 were intentionally stabbed with a knife, and 1 officer was either smothered or strangled. (See Table 3.)

Body Armor

Of 253 officers wearing body armor when slain with firearms during the past 10 years, 152 suffered gunshot wounds to the head; 83 suffered gunshot wounds to the upper torso; and 18 suffered gunshot wounds below the waist. (See Table 7.) Of 83 officers who died as a result of upper torso wounds, 40 officers were killed when bullets entered between the side panels of the vests or through the arm openings. Twenty-five died as a result of wounds above the vest area, and 14 officers were slain when the bullets penetrated their protective vests. Four officers died as a result of wounds in the abdominal and/or lower back area not protected by their vest. (See Table 8.)

Thirteen officers wearing body armor were slain by weapons other than firearms. Seven were intentionally struck by vehicles; 3 were beaten or strangled; 1 was stabbed; 1 was struck on the head with a bucket of spackling compound; and 1 was struck with a metal flashlight.

Places

The most populous region, the Southern States, reported 32 of the 65 officers’ fatalities in 1997. The Western States reported 15; Midwestern States reported 11; and the Northeastern States reported 7 officers slain. (See Table 13.)

A comparison of regional totals for the periods 1988-1992 and 1993-1997 shows that the number of officers killed during the latter 5-year span increased both in the Northeastern States and the Western States, and decreased both in the Midwestern States and the Southern States.

In the past 10 years, 62 percent of the incidents resulting in officers’ deaths occurred from 6:01 p.m.—6 a.m. The figures show the 4-hour period from 4:01 a.m.—8 a.m. to be the hours when the fewest officers were slain and the 6-hour period from 8:01 p.m.—2 a.m. to be when the greatest number was recorded. (See Table 9.)

Daily figures for the decade 1988-1997 show more officers were slain on Fridays than on any other day of the week; the lowest number of fatalities was recorded on Sundays. (See Table 10.) A review of the monthly totals for the same years shows January and April with the highest figures, 69 and 67, respectively, and July with the least fatalities, 43. (See Table 11.)

Accidental Deaths

Sixty officers lost their lives due to accidents occurring while performing their official duties in 1997. Forty officers were killed in automobile, motorcycle, and aircraft accidents; 13 were accidentally struck by vehicles; 1 was accidentally shot; and 6 were killed in other types of accidents such as falls, drownings, etc. (See Table 23.)

Regionally, the Southern States recorded 23 accidental deaths; the Western States, 16; the Midwestern States, 14; and the Northeastern States, 7. (See Table 22.)