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Police officers most likely to die responding to domestic disputes Police officers most likely to die responding to domestic disputes
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A new report from the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (Cops) office finds that police officers are more likely to be killed responding to domestic disputes and disturbances than any other type of call. Forty percent of incidents that lead to law enforcement fatalities began this way according to researchers, while calls about people with guns, shots fired or violent crimes such as robbery and burglary played a role as well. A new report from the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (Cops) office finds that police officers are more likely to be killed responding to domestic disputes and disturbances than any other type of call. Forty per cent of incidents that led to law enforcement fatalities began this way, according to researchers, while calls about people with guns, shots fired or violent crimes such as robbery and burglary played a role as well.
The report, which analyzed 210 officer deaths between 2010 and 2014 recommends officers slowdown in responding to calls, wait for backup whenever possible, and always wear bulletproof vests as strategies for reducing fatalities. The report, which analyzed 210 officer deaths between 2010 and 2014, recommends officers slow down in responding to calls, wait for backup whenever possible, and always wear bulletproof vests as strategies for reducing fatalities.
The report comes amid concerns nationwide about the safety of law enforcement officers on the job after coordinated attacks against police in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Citing those incidents, and the possibility of ones like it in the future, the report states “there is a need to evaluate the issuance of hard body armor, helmets and ballistic shields that can be quickly-deployed in high risk incidents” where assailants have access to high powered rifles. Many departments, including the NYPD, are already heeding this call, outfitting officers with the type of ballistic helmet that is believed to have saved an officer’s life during the Pulse nightclub shooting last month. The report comes amid concerns nationwide about the safety of law enforcement officers on the job after coordinated attacks against police in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Citing those incidents, and the possibility of ones like it in the future, the report states: “There is a need to evaluate the issuance of hard body armor, helmets and ballistic shields that can be quickly deployed in high risk incidents” where assailants have access to high powered rifles. Many departments, including the NYPD, are already heeding this call, outfitting officers with the type of ballistic helmet that is believed to have saved an officer’s life during the Pulse nightclub shooting last month.
Related: San Diego: second suspect arrested after fatal police shootingRelated: San Diego: second suspect arrested after fatal police shooting
In addition to service calls, such as for domestic incidents and crimes in progress, the report also reviewed deaths after officer-initiated actions like traffic stops or investigating a suspicious person or vehicle. It found that nearly two thirds of these fatal incidents happened during traffic stops. In addition to service calls, such as for domestic incidents and crimes in progress, the report also reviewed deaths after officer-initiated actions such as traffic stops or investigating a suspicious person or vehicle. It found that nearly two-thirds of these fatal incidents happened during traffic stops.
“Until you get up on the driver and start asking questions, you don’t have any idea what you are getting into and things can escalate very quickly.” retired Scottsdale, Arizona police detective Jim Hill says in the report. “When you leave the car to go back to your car to do a reference check, you don’t know what is happening in that car. That’s why you need another officer to watch the driver and the passengers.” “Until you get up on the driver and start asking questions, you don’t have any idea what you are getting into and things can escalate very quickly,” the retired Scottsdale, Arizona, police detective Jim Hill says in the report. “When you leave the car to go back to your car to do a reference check, you don’t know what is happening in that car. That’s why you need another officer to watch the driver and the passengers.”
The final category the report looked at was fatal crashes, which were responsible for more than a third of the 210 cases the study examined. More than half were killed while responding to requests for assistance from other officers, prompting the recommendation that officers slow down en route to such calls.The final category the report looked at was fatal crashes, which were responsible for more than a third of the 210 cases the study examined. More than half were killed while responding to requests for assistance from other officers, prompting the recommendation that officers slow down en route to such calls.
Until this month, virtually all available data suggested that fatal violence against police officers was on a long and sustained decline in the US. But the recent coordinated attacks on officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge have resulted in a spike in officer line-of-duty deaths by guns in 2016. So far this year, 33 officers have been killed on duty, including, most recently, one in San Diego Thursday night. In all of 2015, there were 39.Until this month, virtually all available data suggested that fatal violence against police officers was on a long and sustained decline in the US. But the recent coordinated attacks on officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge have resulted in a spike in officer line-of-duty deaths by guns in 2016. So far this year, 33 officers have been killed on duty, including, most recently, one in San Diego Thursday night. In all of 2015, there were 39.