New Report on 2011 Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities to be Released

Total line-of-duty deaths spike more than 16 percent over 2010; firearms-related killings rise almost 20 percent. Expert available for live or taped interviews.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new report about to be released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund will reveal an alarming surge in officer fatalities during the past year. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090112/DC57979LOGO )

After an alarming increase in 2010, the number of law enforcement deaths spiked even higher in 2011, rising more than 16 percent nationwide as of December 19, 2011.  Firearms-related fatalities rose sharply for the second year in a row at almost 20 percent, while traffic-related deaths decreased by about 11 percent over the previous year. And deaths due to causes other than firearms or traffic-related incidents are up an alarming 92 percent.

WHAT:  Law Enforcement Officer Fatality Research Bulletin detailing officer fatalities in 2011. As of December 19, 171 federal, state and local law enforcement officers had died in the line of duty nationwide, a 16 percent increase over the same period last year.  A total of 153 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2010.

WHEN:  Wednesday, December 28, 2011

WHO:  Craig W. Floyd, NLEOMF Chairman and CEO, is available for live or taped interviews to discuss the report on Wednesday, December 28. To receive an embargoed copy of the report and/or schedule an interview, contact Steve Groeninger, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, at (202) 737-7135, or via email at [email protected].

These are among the many findings of the annual report on law enforcement officer fatalities for 2011 that will be released on Wednesday, December 28, by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which serves as the national clearinghouse for information on officer fatalities. 

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers and to promoting officer safety. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 19,298 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now working to create the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of law enforcement in America through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.

CONTACT:
Steve Groeninger
(202) 737-7135
[email protected]

SOURCE National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund