Recently released data shows that in 2021 458 law enforcement officers died “in the line of duty”. On average. each officer left behind 2 children. 

            About 5 times as many officers die from Covid-19 as died from either gunfire or traffic related incidents.  The 458 fatalities broke the previous record of 312 set in 1930.  In 2021 62 officers died by gunfire, 58 deaths were traffic related and 301 died from Covid.

            The above information is from the 2021 2021 Law Enforcement Officers Fatality Report produced by: the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The Report covers deaths in local, territorial, tribal, state and federal governments.

            Police work is dangerous but is not one of the 10 most dangerous jobs in America.  In December 2021 Business Insider analyzed US Occupational death rates reported from 2020 by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Police Officer is the 18th most dangerous job with a fatality rate of 13.4 officers out of 100,000 workers.  Farmers and ranchers are number 10, with a rate of 20.9 per 100,000.  Commercial fishing is the most dangerous job with a rate of 132.1 followed by logging with a fatality rate of 91.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers.  These figures show there are many dangerous jobs in America.

            Since Covid-19 is the deadliest threat to the profession it is surprising that many law enforcement professionals and police unions oppose Covid vaccine mandates.  Some police agencies including the Coos County Sheriff’s Office won’t enforce Covid safety regulations. 

            In an August 27 2021 letter to County “citizens” Sheriff Craig Zanni said, “My office will not be enforcing the mask mandate as it is a medical issue and not a criminal matter that my staff can or should be involved in.”  The Fraternal Order of Police (among its members are Coquille Officers) have sued so far unsuccessfully to block Governor Brown’s vaccine mandate.

            Police officers often interact with people at heightened risk of catching or transmitting covid.  Unvaccinated officers increase the danger of infection for themselves, their coworkers and the public.