FBI: More Officers Died in the Line of Fire in 2009

(May 10) — From the three Pittsburgh cops gunned down in one day to a U.S. border patrol agent ambushed by Mexican teens, the year 2009 was an especially deadly one for local and federal law enforcement, according to the FBI.

In its preliminary report, the FBI found a 17 percent jump in the number of officers “feloniously killed” in the line of duty in 2009, comparing the toll of 48 with the previous year’s 41. Additionally, 47 officers were accidentally killed in 2009, or 21 fewer than the year before.

Of the officers feloniously or criminally killed last year, 15 died in ambush situations and nine died during an arrest, the report said. On top of that, eight died during traffic stops or pursuits, five died while responding to disturbance calls, four while investigating suspicious activities, one while dealing with a person with mental illness, two while transporting prisoners and four in other situations.

All were shot and killed except three, who were struck by cars. Of those killed with guns, 28 were shot with handguns, 15 with rifles and two with shotguns.

The FBI report said 35 of the law enforcement officers were wearing body armor at the time of their deaths. Twelve fired their weapons and nine attempted to.

Seven of the officers had their weapons stolen. Two were killed with their own weapons. Geographically, the most deaths — 21 — occurred in the South. Elsewhere, 13 happened in the West, seven in the Northeast and five in the Midwest. Two were slain in Puerto Rico, the FBI said.

Some of the more egregious incidents in 2009 included the slaying of four Lakewood police officers who were ambushed at a coffee house outside of Tacoma, Wa. in November, and the March deaths of four officers who were shot and killed in Oakland, Calif. by an ex-felon wanted on a parole violation .

Robert Casey, section chief for the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division, which compiles the report, said the agency uses the stats to educate law enforcement about the perils of the job.

It also videotapes suspects who are willing to talk after their convictions and their appeals have been exhausted. He said some will say what the officer did wrong or explain that it wouldn’t have mattered, that they weren’t going back to prison, Casey said.

The FBI then shows the instructional videos in law enforcement classes to help officers stay alive, Casey said. “They’re extremely helpful,” he said of the stats and the videos.