Scene / Circumstance of Incident

Based on the data from the 2007 FBI Crime Statistics, there are activities that resulted in a large portion of LEOs being assaulted and killed.  Before we go too far, I need to point out the problem with today’s analysis.  The data I have lists the circumstances during the assault so I can establish how often a LEO will be assaulted compared to other activities.  What is NOT listed is how often the LEO performs these duties compared to other activities.  Let me give you an example:

• In 2007 5 LEOs out of 57 were feloniously killed during a disturbance call
• We can accurately say that LEOs killed during disturbance calls represented 9% of all LEOs killed during 2007

The problem is that we don’t know how often an LEO is called to a disturbance call.  If disturbance calls represent 50% of all the calls received, then disturbance calls are a low-risk event.  If disturbance calls represent 2% of all calls, then these calls represent a high-risk event.  We are limited in this case due to no-data.

Despite this shortcoming, it is obvious that certain activities present more risk for LEOs than others.  The activities resulting in most LEO deaths during the last ten years (and tied for the most in 2007) were arrest situations.  The FBI further breaks these activities down into burglary/burglary in progress, robbery/robbery in progress, drug-related matter, and attempting other arrest.  Here’s what it looks like:

     In 2007:

• 1 LEO killed during burglary call (11 last ten years)
• 6 LEO killed during robbery call (39 last ten years)
• 1 LEO killed during drug-relater matter (27 during last ten years)
• 8 LEO killed during other arrest attempt (50 during last ten years)

In all, arrest situations accounted for 28% of LEO deaths in 2007 and 23% during the last ten years.

The next activity are ambush situations, which are further categorized as entrapment/premeditation, and unprovoked attacks. 

     In 2007:

• 9 LEO killed during entrapment/premeditation (43 during the last ten years)
• 7 LEO killed during unprovoked attacks (67 during the last ten years)

Ambush situations also represented 28% during 2007, but was a slightly lower 20% over the last ten years.

Other circumstances (ranked in order-2007 data):

• Traffic pursuit/stop – 19%
• Disturbance call – 9%
• Investigating suspicion person/circumstance – 7%
• Tactical situation – 5%
• Investigative activity – 2%
• Handling/transporting/custody of prisoner – 2%
• Handling person with mental illness – 0% (2% last ten years)
• Civil disorder – 0% (0% last ten years)

The takeaways are pretty simple.  When operating with limited time, resources, and energy focus your training time on Arrest and Ambush situations.  Over the last ten years, nearly 60% of all LEOs killed were in these circumstances. 

“I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.” – Edward Gibbon (author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire)

Let your feet be guided by the lamp of experience.  It is held by your fallen brothers and was paid for in blood.

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