Dramatic Drop in Police Officer Deaths in 2017

There was a dramatic decrease in the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2017, with the second lowest number of officer fatalities in more than 50 years, USA Today reported.

According to data released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, as of Thursday, 128 officers had died in the line of duty in 2017. Forty-four of them were shot and killed. This is a 10 percent decrease from last year, which had 143 deaths, with 66 shot and killed.

In the past 50 years, 2013 was the only other year that saw fewer deaths, with 116 officers killed.

"After three consecutive years of rising deaths in the law enforcement profession, this year's decline offered some encouraging news," said NLEOMF CEO Craig Floyd. "Sadly, though, the 128 officers who lost their lives in 2017 reminds us that public safety comes at a very steep price and we must never take the service and sacrifice of our policing professionals for granted, nor should we ever forget the officers who died and their families."

Not only did gun-related deaths decrease, traffic-related fatalities went down as well. There were 47 traffic-related incidents in 2017, compared to 54 last year, according to the data. Deaths related to incidents other than guns and traffic rose by 61 percent compared to last year. Thirty seven officers died in 2017, compared to 23 in 2016.

Seven officers were beaten to death in 2017, compared to two in 2016. Five officers drowned in 2017, three related to the hurricanes that hit the U.S. and its territories. Job-related illnesses claimed 16 lives, compared to nine in 2016, and four officers died from 9/11-related illnesses, according to the data. Additionally, two officers died in boating accidents, two in helicopter crashes and one was stabbed to death.

Texas suffered the most deaths, with 14 fatalities. New York and Florida each had the next highest numbers, with nine.

Floyd attributes the decrease in deaths to better training, superior equipment, an improved relationship between the public and law enforcement and stressing the importance of officer safety and wellness.