WASHINGTON —Law enforcement line of duty deaths have decreased by approximately 53% in 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s mid-year report.
As of June, there have been 42 officers killed in the line of duty, according to the report.
“Every number that we publish in this report represents a selfless sacrifice made on behalf of the community and the nation in which they serve,” National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Bill Alexander said in a statement. “We lament to document even a single such death, but we are encouraged by how this data is trending currently. We continue to use our data to not only highlight the continuing dangers faced by our law enforcement professionals, but to highlight best practices in officer safety and wellness that we hope is impacting the safety of the men and women who work tirelessly to protect us.”
Of the officers killed this year, 22 were city police department officers, 14 were sheriff’s deputies, three were federal officers, two were state officers and one was a territorial officer.
California and Texas had the most officer deaths, with five officers killed in each state. Twenty-six states had zero officer fatalities.
Firearms-related fatalities
Of the 42 deaths, 22 were firearms-related, marking a 21% decrease from 2024, when 28 officers were killed by firearms.
Five officers were killed while investigating suspicious persons, five while attempting arrests, three while conducting traffic enforcement and three while responding domestic disturbances. Other officers were killed while serving warrants, civil papers or an eviction, during accidental or inadvertent shootings, while responding to disturbance calls, while transporting a prisoner or during a tactical encounter.
Traffic-related fatalities
Traffic-related fatalities decreased by half, with 13 deaths in 2025 compared with 26 in the first half of 2024. Five officers were killed in traffic crashes, two were killed in motorcycle crashes and six were struck outside the vehicle.
Other causes of death
Five officers have died from physical-related issues, one was killed in an aircraft incident and one was crushed to death.
Additional demographics
Thirty-nine male officers were killed and three female officers. The youngest officer killed was 24 years old, the average was 43 and the oldest was 73. The shortest time served in law enforcement was eight months, the average was 13 years and the longest was 47 years.
