Crime Fighting Has Taken Its Toll
Since the first recorded police death in 1786, there have been more than 24,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Currently, there are 24,067 names engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
The New York City Police Department has lost more officers in the line of duty than any other department, with 1,090 deaths. Texas has lost 2,041 officers, more than any other state. The state with the fewest deaths is Vermont, with 26.
A total of 2,652 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years and their names are currently engraved on the National Memorial. There were 118 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2023 and their names will be formally dedicated in May 2024.