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yesterday

U.S. On-Duty Police Deaths Drop to Lowest Level Since 1943

A separate police union count shows more officers shot even with fewer deaths.

FILE - The police procession arrives for the funeral of West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte at Living Word Community Church, in Red Lion, Pa., Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
FILE - Linda Shields leaves flowers in front of the West York Police Department after a police officer was killed responding to a shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. on Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
FILE - Officers wait for slain West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte's funeral procession from Living Word Community Church, in Red Lion, Pa., Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
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Overview

  • Preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund show 111 on-duty deaths in 2025, down from 148 in 2024 and the lowest annual total since 1943.
  • Firearm fatalities fell 15% to 44, traffic-related deaths declined to 34 (nearly 23% lower), and the “other” category dropped to 33 (down 37%).
  • The “other” category includes 14 officers who died from illnesses linked to September 11 response efforts.
  • The memorial fund says the tally is preliminary and excludes recent COVID-19 deaths and suicides, with final memorial listings to follow further review.
  • The Fraternal Order of Police reported 347 officers shot in 2025, a slight rise from 342 in 2024, highlighting differences between incident counts and fatalities.