The number of on-duty deaths among law enforcement officers in the U.S. saw a notable decline of nearly 25% in 2025, as reported by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). The annual report issued ahead of its formal release indicates a reduction in all categories of fatalities from 148 total deaths in 2024 to 111 in 2025. Firearm fatalities alone decreased by 15%, marking the lowest figure in at least a decade.
Bill Alexander, the CEO of the Fund, expressed optimism over the decrease in firearm deaths, emphasizing its importance as a measure of the safety of law enforcement officers. Even one officer fatality is too many, and our goal is to see none, but any decrease is heartening, he noted.
Traffic-related fatalities also reflected a substantial drop, nearly 23% from the prior year. Experts attribute this improvement to heightened awareness surrounding officer safety, particularly during traffic stops, which has led to the implementation of several states’ move-over laws.
Improved safety training and better equipment for officers are believed to contribute to the reduction in firearm fatalities, although Alexander pointed out that luck remains an unpredictable factor.
Despite the overall decline in fatalities, the report indicates that instances of officers being shot while on duty have marginally increased, rising from 342 incidents in 2024 to 347 in 2025. High-profile cases, such as the tragic shooting of Andrew Duarte and the death of Delaware State Trooper Matthew Ty Snook, underscore the ongoing dangers faced by law enforcement.
The report also noted that 17 states and Washington D.C. recorded no officer fatalities, reflecting a positive trend towards enhanced safety in law enforcement operations.
Bill Alexander, the CEO of the Fund, expressed optimism over the decrease in firearm deaths, emphasizing its importance as a measure of the safety of law enforcement officers. Even one officer fatality is too many, and our goal is to see none, but any decrease is heartening, he noted.
Traffic-related fatalities also reflected a substantial drop, nearly 23% from the prior year. Experts attribute this improvement to heightened awareness surrounding officer safety, particularly during traffic stops, which has led to the implementation of several states’ move-over laws.
Improved safety training and better equipment for officers are believed to contribute to the reduction in firearm fatalities, although Alexander pointed out that luck remains an unpredictable factor.
Despite the overall decline in fatalities, the report indicates that instances of officers being shot while on duty have marginally increased, rising from 342 incidents in 2024 to 347 in 2025. High-profile cases, such as the tragic shooting of Andrew Duarte and the death of Delaware State Trooper Matthew Ty Snook, underscore the ongoing dangers faced by law enforcement.
The report also noted that 17 states and Washington D.C. recorded no officer fatalities, reflecting a positive trend towards enhanced safety in law enforcement operations.
