In brief
According to the latest findings by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the number of law enforcement officers who died on duty in the U.S. plummeted by almost 25% in 2025, with notable reductions in firearm-related deaths and traffic incidents. While the decrease in fatalities reflects enhanced safety measures, the report underscores the persisting risks faced by officers on duty.
Deaths of on-duty law enforcement officers in the U.S. decreased by nearly 25% in 2025, according to an annual report.
The report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, shared with The Associated Press ahead of its release Tuesday, shows a drop in all categories of fatalities, from 148 total deaths in 2024 to 111 last year.
Officer firearm fatalities dropped to 44, a 15% decrease from 52 in 2024 and the lowest number in at least a decade, according to the Fund’s previous annual officer fatality reports.
“I always like to see that firearms deaths are down. They are the tip of the spear for egregious acts,” said Bill Alexander, the chief executive officer of the Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that works to memorialize fallen officers, educate the public about the profession, and improve officer safety.
Traffic-related deaths also decreased nearly 23% between 2024 and 2025, including both fatal traffic accidents and officers killed after being struck by a vehicle — usually during traffic stops.
“Even one officer fatality is too many, and our ultimate goal is to have none. But we’re heartened by any decrease in those numbers,” Alexander said.
Alexander highlighted the growing national focus on officer safety while on the road. More states have implemented “move-over” laws, requiring drivers to move out of the lane closest to traffic stops or accidents. Additionally, there are efforts to instruct officers to approach vehicles from the passenger side during traffic stops, keeping them out of travel lanes.
The report indicated that the reason for the decrease in firearm-related fatalities is difficult to quantify. While many departments have provided enhanced safety training and improved equipment, factors such as luck may also play a role.
While the total fatalities have decreased, the report noted an uptick in the number of officers shot while on-duty, rising from 342 in 2024 to 347 in 2025. Among the high-profile cases was Andrew Duarte from the West York Borough Police Department, who was tragically killed in February.
Additionally, 17 states and Washington D.C. reported no on-duty officer fatalities along with a significant reduction in various categories including physical or medical issues related to on-duty incidents.
Importantly, the report excluded COVID-19 deaths from considerations in the past two years as they significantly impacted fatality numbers in previous years.
