Facts & Figures

The following are statistics regarding Line of Duty Death (LODD) in the United States and locally in Riverside County (below).

Key Data about the Profession (Nationally)

  • There are more than 900,000 sworn law enforcement officers now serving in the United States, which is the highest figure ever. About 12 percentof those are female. 
  • In 2008, there were an estimated 4.9 million violent crimes committed in the United States, as well as an estimated 16.3 million property crimes (according to the National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics). Violent and property crime rates in 2008 remain at the lowest levels recorded since 1973, the first year that such data were collected. The rate of every major violent and property crime measured by BJS fell between 1999 and 2008. The overall violent crime rate fell 41 percent and the property crime rate declined by 32 percent during the last 10 years. 
  • Crime fighting has taken its toll. Since the first recorded police death in 1791, there have been over 19,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Currently, there are 19,298 names engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
  • A total of 1,626 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of one death every 53 hours or 163 per year. There were 116 law enforcement officers killed in 2009, the lowest annual total since 1959. 
  • On average, more than 58,000 law enforcement officers are assaulted each year, resulting in approximately 16,000 injuries. 
  • The 1970s were the deadliest decade in law enforcement history, when a total of 2,286 officers died, or an average of almost 229 each year. The deadliest year in law enforcement history was 1930, when 285 officers were killed. That figure dropped dramatically in the 1990s, to an average of 160 per year.
  • The deadliest day in law enforcement history was September 11, 2001, when 72 officers were killed while responding to the terrorist attacks on America.
  • New York City has lost more officers in the line of duty than any other department, with 693 deaths. Texas has lost 1,563 officers, more than any other state. The state with the fewest deaths is Vermont, with 21
  • There are 1,002 federal officers listed on the Memorial, as well as 565 correctional officers and 29 military law enforcement officers.
  • There are 237 female officers listed on the Memorial; just one female officer was killed in 2009, one of the lowest numbers in recent years.
  • During the past ten years, more officers were killed feloniously on Friday than any other day of the week. The fewest number of felonious fatalities occurred on Sunday. Over the past decade, more officers were killed between 8:01 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. than during any other two-hour period.

The above information provided by the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Fund and U. S. Department of Justice data.

 

 

 

 

Riverside County Statistics

 

  • There are 59 known law enforcement officers from Federal, State and local departments who were killed in the Line of Duty in Riverside County since Riverside became a county on May 9, 1893, as determined by the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program, U.S. Department of Justice*.  Of this number, 29 were killed by felonious action (murdered by gunfire or assaulted) and 30 were killed by vehicle collision or other incident. 
  • There are two law enforcement memorials in Riverside County. The Riverside Police Department "Safe In His Arms" memorial lists the names of all officers, deputies and agents killed in the line of duty in Riverside County.  The Palm Springs Police Department Memorial lists PSPD departmental officers.  
  • There are nine known plaques, markers and monuments honoring many of those killed in the Line of Duty while serving in Riverside County.
  • There are 14 separate law enforcement agencies serving in Riverside County.  Nine of those agencies have lost one or more officers to LODD.
  • The first known law enforcement officer killed in the Line of Duty in Riverside County was Special Deputy Frank Hamilton, in 1895, while serving the Riverside County Sheriff's office.
  • The Riverside Sheriff's Department (RSO) has sustained the highest LODD loss with 21 deputies/officers killed, 9 feloniously (murdered by gunfire or assault) and 12 due to non-felonious action (vehicle collision, friendly fire or other incident).  These numbers also include two sets of partners (killed in the same action).
  • Of the other agencies:
    Riverside Police Department:  15 officers 
    California Highway Patrol:  9 officers
    United States Border Patrol:  8 agents
    Cathedral City Police Department: 2 officers
    Palm Springs Police Department:  2 officers
    California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement: 1 agent
    Corona Police Department:  1 officer (Constable)
    Union Pacific Police Department: 1 agent
  • The Riverside Police Department also had two sets of partners killed in the same action as well as the United States Border Patrol.
  • The deadliest days in Riverside County law enforcement were January 5, 1997 - (Haugen/Lehmann - RSO), April 2, 1971 - (Christiansen/Teel - RPD),  May 9 (RSO Evans - 1980 and RSO Hintergardt - 1993), May 13, 1982 - Doty/Trust - RPD), June 17, 1967 - (Azrak/Newton - USBP), and September 22, 1921 - (Crossley/Nelson - RSO).
  • Riverside Police Department Officer Claire Connelly was the first and only female killed in the line of duty in Riverside County.
  • May is the deadliest month in Riverside County's history with 13 officers/deputies/agents killed in the line of duty.  The least deadliest months are February and September with two deaths each. There are no months without a LODD.  Three law enforcement officers were killed on May 13th (two partners same day/year and another death same date, different year), the dealiest single day in Riverside County's history. Friday is the deadliest day of the week with a high of 10 deaths and the least deadliest day of the week is Tuesday, with 5 deaths recorded on that day of the week.
  • The RCPOMF was founded and incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2005. One annual fundraiser is the Law ride. Our annual Law Rides have attracted over 450 riders each ride and has raised funds to continue the Foundation's mission.
* The Federal PSOB listing of LODD does not include general worker compensation determined death.