Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty, 2000. (Crime Data).

According to preliminary statistics released by the FBI, 51 law enforcement officers were killed feloniously in the line of duty in 2000. This represents an increase of 9 from the 1999 total of 42. Fifty separate incidents account for the 51 officer deaths in 2000. Law enforcement agencies have cleared 48 of these incidents by arrest or exceptional means. Two suspects remain at large.

During 2000, firearms were again the weapon most often used in the slaying of officers with 33 officers slain with handguns, 10 with rifles, and 4 with shotguns. Two officers were slain with their own weapons. Additionally, 3 officers were killed by vehicles, and 1 officer was killed with a knife. Thirty officers were wearing body armor at the time of their deaths.

Twelve officers lost their lives in arrest situations: 6 were serving arrest warrants; 3 were investigating drug-related situations; 2 were trying to prevent robberies or apprehend robbery suspects; and 1 was handling a burglary. Another 13 officers were murdered while enforcing traffic laws, 10 while encountering ambush situations, 8 while answering disturbance calls, 6 while investigating suspicious persons or circumstances, and 2 while handling prisoners.

Additionally, preliminary statistics indicate that 83 officers were killed accidentally in the performance of their duties in 2000, an increase of 18 compared to the 65 accidental deaths in 1999.

For the complete preliminary annual Uniform Crime Report press release, access the FBI's Web site at http.//www.fbi.gov. Final statistics and complete details will be published in the forthcoming Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2000.