NCJ Number
223577
Date Published
2008
Length
130 pages
Annotation
This report examines felonious and accidental deaths of peace officers and assaults that occurred in California between 2000 and 2004.
Abstract
Highlights of the report include the following: (1) between 2000 and 2004, 23 California peace officers were feloniously killed, 37 were accidentally killed, and 40,080 were assaulted; (2) an average of 8,016 assaults took place annually, an average annual increase of 1,167 attacks from 1995-1999; (3) officers were most frequently killed in motorcycle, pedestrian, and vehicle traffic collisions between 2000-2004; (4) the primary cause for patrol vehicle traffic collisions was excessive speed; (5) felonious deaths occurred in the State’s central, northern, and southern regions with involved communities entailing rural, suburban, and urban with 16 of the 23 murders, or 70 percent occurring in urban areas; (6) vehicle stops and ambushes were the deadliest contacts between 2000 and 2004; (7) 10 of the 23 peace officers, or 34 percent were killed within 60 seconds of their arrival or initial contact; and (8) 8 of the 23 peace officers killed or 35 percent between 2000-2004 occurred when peace officers initiated law enforcement activities. This report’s objective is to provide information, findings, and recommendations so that the number of peace officer deaths and assault incidents in the State of California can be reduced and prevented. In addition, officer safety guidelines are presented with specific training and policy recommendations. Appendix