NLEOMF releases mid-year police LODD report

Law Enforcement Traffic fatalities are on the rise and COVID-19 continues to be the leading cause of duty deaths

WASHINGTON — There have been 155 line-of-duty deaths so far in 2021, according to a new report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

On Wednesday, the NLEOMF released its mid-year report on officer fatalities, which tracks duty deaths and other statistics relevant to policing. The number-one cause of death continues to be COVID-19, with 71 officers dying of the virus so far this year.  Also significant are traffic fatalities, which are up 58%, according to the report. Of those traffic fatalities, 19 officers were killed from being struck – a number that equals all struck-by deaths in 2020.

Texas has the most duty deaths at 25, followed by 15 federal agency deaths, the report says. Both Georgia and California saw 13 deaths.  Among the total 155 duty deaths, 33 of those officers were feloniously killed, according to the report. Those deaths include 28 gunfire cases, three beatings and two stabbings.  “These numbers are a tragic reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers are exposed to each and every day,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of NLEOMF, in a statement. “The last two years have been incredibly difficult and dangerous for law enforcement. We will continue our work to honor the fallen and ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten.”