In the opening months of 2018, the number of police deaths seem to be increasing.
During the evening of Tuesday March 6, a police officer in Clinton, Missouri was shot and killed when he and two other officers responded to a 911 call at a home. FoxNews.com reports that Christopher Ryan Morton, 30, had just returned to full-time duty.
The suspected shooter, 37-year-old Janes E. Waters, began shooting from inside the home. The other two officers, Nathan Bettencourt and Nicholas Kasper, were both wounded and taken to a nearby hospital.
Police Deaths In The Line Of Duty
Morton’s death marks the 26th police officer to die in the line of duty in 2018, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. In the first two months of this year, 22 officers were killed while on duty and there have been 4 killed in March so far.
To put the 2018 deaths into context, consider the numbers for January and February from each of the previous ten years:
- 2008 = 29
- 2009 = 21
- 2010 = 37
- 2011 = 34
- 2012 = 23
- 2013 = 21
- 2014 = 21
- 2015 = 16
- 2016 = 17
- 2017 = 28
- 2018 = 22
The 2018 total is the sixth highest on the list. While it is still more than anyone wants, this number is on the low side of the total range.
Death From Violence
But how many of those deaths have been the result of violence? Of the 22 police deaths in January and February this year, 13 officers died from gunfire. That means 84.6% of the police deaths have been the result of a violent encounter!
To put this number in perspective, here is how it compares to the violent police deaths from the first two months of the prior ten years.
- 2008 = 6.7%
- 2009 = 1.39%
- 2010 = 8.89%
- 2011 = 8.6%
- 2012 = 8.57%
- 2013 = 10.3%
- 2014 = 3.2%
- 2015 = 1.25%
- 2016 = 10%
- 2017 = 5.2%
- 2018 = 84.6%
The Bottom Line
The 2018 percentage is shocking when compared to previous years. It is 74% higher than the second and third ranked years. Clearly, if the current trend continues the number of police deaths from violence could increase dramatically this year.
American Security Force calls for an end to violence against police officers. These brave men and women rush in when a community member calls, no matter what the situation might be. They put their lives on the line. Daily. Needless violence against those who are trying to serve and protect us needs to end.
We support our brothers in law enforcement. One police death is too many.
The members of the American Security Force team are specialists at security solutions. If you want to learn more about how to protect your property call us at 855-722-8585.
