How dangerous is it to be a Police Officer?

2015-08-02T18:21:37-04:00

Three officers have been killed in Memphis, TN in the last four years. The most recent occurred Saturday during a traffic stop.

This year 71 officers have been categorized as losing their lives in the line of duty. 19 officers have lost their lives due to gunfire, 2 to accidental gunfire, 3 due to assault, 3 due to vehicular assault, 4 due to vehicular pursuit, 4 struck by vehicles, 17 automobile accidents, 2 motorcycle accidents, 1 fall, 2 accidental, 3 9/11 illness, and 11 by Heartattack.

Discounting the accidental and illness related deaths, there are 33 Officers, thats. almost 5 Officer deaths per month. "The men and women in blue have certain rules of engagement that they have to follow, but at any given minute in a 24-hour day they're dealing with folks who have no rules of engagement,"

Law enforcement face dangerous situations every day, it's important to recognize this. It seems we only hear about the negative interactions that result in poor images of law enforcement because reporting the positive interactions and or helpful things that occur doesn't drive up ratings. Officers are being given a poor image because of the few who overreact or react poorly to a given situation but this is not reflective of the force as a whole.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/08/02/memphis-police-officer-fatally-shot-during-traffic-stop/21217056/

Police ID suspect in killing of officer; manhunt underway

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 6:46 PM

2015-08-02T18:46:54-04:00

My son is a LEO, when I question about how he's doing, or comment about the dangers of LEO's being targeted for "assassinations", his comment is "he just has to be alert and do his job". His powers of observation are very keen so i'm sure he is trying to be aware of his surroundings.
As you know, being in the profession, when you"re "on the job", your only concentration can be "on your job, your life and that of your partner depends on it. Just like being deployed. Two vocations that are very similar. Dangerous, I think so. Rewarding, he loves what he does, as I'm sure all the LEO's do.

Response by SGT Keith Beatty made Aug 2 at 2015 6:56 PM

2015-08-02T18:56:48-04:00

I was a Police Officer for over 20 years. I retired in 2012 due to injuries that I revived while serving in Iraq for OIF -09. I am not happy to see that an officer is now guilty befor a trial can even be started. I'm glad I'm retired now.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Aug 2 at 2015 7:50 PM

2015-08-02T19:50:50-04:00

I always thank Leo's when I talk with them. I consider their job one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs you can have. We knew (for the most part) when we were going into combat. They never know....From one minute to the next....

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 8:20 PM

2015-08-02T20:20:54-04:00

Police are armed for a reason. Of those I have know (and I worked in the same building as the police) I never met one who wanted to use his firearm.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 8:51 PM

2015-08-02T20:51:54-04:00

You never know who will come into contact with, what peoples mind sets are. And now with all this scrutiny of police, Police Officers are going to hesitate and it is going to cost them their lives. I am not a PO, I'm a CO, I at least know that I am surrounded by criminals. POs have to be extra cautious as they maybe encountering someone of no threat, but you can go from 0-60 in the blink of an eye. Above all else, it is a thankless job very few are willing to do but quick to criticize. We who walk that "Thin Blue Line" are the 1%, , the Protectors, the Sheepdogs.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Aug 2 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-08-02T21:15:11-04:00

This is one reason they are called "The Thin Blue Line". These people are like we are when deployed, only they deploy everyday they go to work, my hat's off to them. There's enough anarchy in this country to go around and as we all know it only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole box. LEOs are only human and will make mistakes, but we hold them in a glass house so we can stand outside a point our fingers, not knowing that sometimes a flaw in or curved glass will change the view we see. I would really like to get back to "Innocent until proven guilty". We can all see how the race baiters, news media, and politicians screwed things up in Missouri.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 4 at 2015 10:50 PM

2015-08-04T22:50:29-04:00

It will always be Dangerous. You are dealing with people that are Scared, Angry, Maybe or Maybe not Criminals. I wouldn't want to do it. My Brother in Law is a Cop. In my line of work I have had the Pleasure of meeting quite a few wonderful Officers to include the Deputy Sherriff of Jackson County (Kansas City). They have my Utmost respect.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 5:03 PM

2015-10-16T17:03:00-04:00

Ask the guy who just got a righteous ticket for speeding and he'll tell you he couldn't care less, kill them all. Ask him after the same copper shoots the scumbag who is robbing his store at gunpoint, and he'll praise the police...until he gets another speeding ticket. The danger in police work lies in the immutable fact that we/they are dealing with the human mind: the most complex and completely unpredictable thing on this planet.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 10:54 PM

2015-10-16T22:54:33-04:00

By the Justice Department's own data, LEO deaths are lower now than they have been in decades. They're just getting all the press right now, that's the only difference.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2022 5:36 PM

2022-09-22T17:36:48-04:00

Anything can happen at anytime. I pray for all police officers.