The most current BLS fatality event data, for the years 2003-06, shows that transportation incidents are now the leading cause of fatalities in police work. The risk of transportation-related fatality is over 40% greater than the risk of homicide. The number of transportation fatalities has remained steady, while the number of homicides has declined (as mentioned in the Congressional homage resolution cited in the introduction).
(A CBS video feature, "Special Assignment: Officer Involved Crash", covers the frequency and cost of police vehicle crashes in Virginia. It is one of the few public glimpses into police transportation incidents)
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Note: The new occupational category for police, introduced in 2003, resulted in a smaller worker count. This led to fatality rates increasing, even as the number of fatalities decreased. |
