2023 MID-YEAR

PRELIMINARY
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
FATALITIES REPORT
 LAW ENFORCEMENT
52
OFFICER FATALITIES
According to preliminary data compiled by the During the first six months of 2023, 14 officers died of
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund other causes, such as aircraft accidents, fire-related
(NLEOMF), as of June 30, 2023, 52 federal, state, and incidents, and physical-related illnesses including
local law enforcement officers died in the line-of- heart attacks and strokes suffered while in the
duty. This is a decrease of approximately 66% from performance of their official duties.
the 153 officers killed during the same period last
In addition, 2 officers died from Covid-19, for a total
year. The 52 line-of-duty deaths are down across
of 16 deaths in the Other category.
all categories, but the overall decrease is largely
a result of dramatic reductions in the reports of
Covid-19 related deaths.

A decrease in traffic-related fatalities thus far in 2023

is a positive trend, particularly following our National
Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Summit in January of
2022. In the first six months of this year, 11 officers
have died due to traffic-related crashes such as single-
vehicle accidents, vehicle collisions, and motorcycle
crashes while working along our nation’s roadways.
These 11 crash-related fatalities are a decrease of 63%
compared to the 30 crash-related deaths during the
same period last year.

66%
Additionally, two officers were struck and killed
deploying Tire Deflation Devices (TDD). Both officers
were from the same law enforcement agency, but
killed in separate incidents. These two struck-by
fatalities represent an 82% decrease, from 11 in
2022, to 2 in 2023.
Law Enforcement
During the first half of 2023, 25 officers died from Line-of-Duty
felonious assaults, all of whom were killed in the
line of duty as a of a result of being fatally shot. Deaths Down
The 25 officers killed by firearms represents a 24%
decrease over the 33 officers killed in firearms-
Approximately
related fatalities during the first six months of 2022.
The leading circumstance of firearms fatalities were
66 Percent
officers handling domestic disturbances. in 2023

2 | 2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT

 LAW ENFORCEMENT FATALITIES BY DECADE 1970-2023
THROUGH MID-YEAR

200

175
153
150

125

100

75

50

25

0
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2023

52
TOTAL FATALITIES

25 11 14 2
Firearms-related Traffic-related Other
COVID-19

Note: Mid-year is from January 1 through June 30 of each year.

The data and statistics contained in this report are preliminary and do not represent a final or complete list of individual officers who will be
added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2024.

2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT | 3

 FIREARMS-RELATED
25
FATALITIES
Of the 52 confirmed law enforcement line-of-duty
deaths from January 1-June 30, 2023, firearms-
related fatalities were the leading cause of law
OFFICERS FALLEN:
enforcement deaths. These deaths represent a FIREAMS-RELATED
24% decrease over the same period last year.
Deputy Sheriff
Twenty-five officers were shot and killed during Darnell Andrew Calhoun
the first six months of the year, compared to 33 Riverside County, California, S.O.
during the same period in 2022. Of the 25 firearms EOW: JANUARY 13, 2023
fatalities, six were handling domestic disputes Deputy Sheriff Calhoun was shot and
and five were investigating suspicious persons killed after responding to a domestic
disturbance call. Deputy Calhoun was
or activity. Four were on traffic stops and three the first to arrive on scene and contacted the suspect and
were handling disturbance calls. Two officers the suspect immediately presented a firearm and fired
were shot attempting to make an arrest and two upon the officer. Deputy Calhoun was transported to a
hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot wound.
were shot while responding to robbery/theft calls
in progress. One officer each was killed serving a
felony warrant and handling a hostage situation.
Sergeant
The final officer was ambushed in an unprovoked Christopher David Fitzgerald
attack. Temple University, Pennsylvania, P.D.

Handguns were the leading type of firearm used in EOW: FEBRUARY 18, 2023

fatal shootings of law enforcement officers in the Sergeant Fitzgerald was shot
and killed as he investigated a
first half of 2023. Of the 25 officer fatalities, eight
suspicious person during his patrol
were killed with a handgun, four were killed by a shift. Sergeant Fitzgerald began a foot pursuit with the
rifle, while one was killed with their own weapon. individual and a struggle ensued and the suspect then
produced a handgun and fired at the officer. Sergeant
The type of firearm used in the remaining 12 Fitzgerald was transported to a hospital where he was
fatalities is still under investigation or unknown at pronounced dead.
this time.

Of the 25 firearms-related fatalities in the first

Police Officer
half of 2023, five each occurred in April, May, and Horren Randy Tyler
June. Four occurred in February, and three each Madison, Mississippi, P.D.
in January and March. EOW: JUNE 1, 2023

Police Officer Tyler was shot and

killed during a tactical operation
where a hostage situation turned into
a standoff. A suspect broke into a home and took two
women hostage. The man opened fire on the officers,
killing Officer Tyler and wounding another officer.

4 | 2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY FATALITIES REPORT

 FIREARMS-RELATED FATALITIES
THROUGH MID-YEAR

BY CIRCUMSTANCE BY FIREARM TYPE

Domestic disturbance 6 Unknown 12

Investigating suspicious 5 Handgun 8
persons/activities
Traffic enforcement 4 Rifle 4
Officers
Disturbance call 3 weapon 1
Attempting arrest 2

Robbery in-progress call 2

Serving Felony warrant 1 BY MONTH

Ambush 1
January 3 April 5
Tactical 1

February 4 May 5

March 3 June 5

BY DECADE*

1970s 63 1980s 44 1990s 35 2000s 29 2010s 26 2020 30

*Average gunfire fatalities per decade

Note: Mid-Year is from January 1 through June 30

2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT | 5

 TRAFFIC-RELATED
11
FATALITIES
Eleven officers were killed in traffic-related incidents remain the second-leading cause of traffic-related
during the first half of 2023, compared to 30 over fatalities. These fatal struck-by crashes often occur
the same period last year, a 63% decrease. Of while officers are investigating motor vehicle
the 11 traffic-related fatalities, 8 were automobile crashes or assisting motorists on the side of the
crashes and 1 was a motorcycle crash. During the road. Two struck-by fatalities occurred during the
same time period last year, 18 officers were killed first half of the year, versus eleven during the same
in automobile crashes and 1 died in a motorcycle period last year, representing a 82% decrease.
crash. The 8 total crashes in 2023 to date represent
Compared to the average number of traffic-related
a 56% decrease compared to 18 in the same time
fatalities per decade, 2023 is well below the past
period in 2022.
10-year average (2010 – 2019). In the prior decade,
Struck-by incidents, where an officer was hit by a 27 officers were killed on average in the first half of
vehicle while outside of their patrol vehicle, a given year.

TRAFFIC-RELATED FATALITIES
THROUGH MID-YEAR

BY CIRCUMSTANCE BY DECADE*

Automobile crash
1970s 27 2000s 33
2022 14
2023 5 1980s 30 2010s 27

Single vehicle Motorcyle crash 1990s 29 2020s 30

2022 4 2022 1
*Average per decade
2023 3 2023 1

Struck outside vehicle

2022 11
2023 2

Note: Mid-Year is from January 1 through June 30

6 | 2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT

OFFICERS FALLEN: TRAFFIC-RELATED

Police Officer Master Trooper

Charles Hugh Herring James Ray Bailey
Pembroke Pines, Florida, P.D. Indiana State Police
EOW: FEBRUARY 9, 2023 EOW: MARCH 3, 2023

Police Officer Herring was killed Master Trooper Bailey responded

in a motorcycle crash when his to an officer needs assistance call
department-issued motorcycle was involving a vehicle pursuit with
struck by a palm frond that had another police department. Trooper
fallen from a palm tree causing him Bailey was intentionally struck and
to lose control of the motorcycle. killed while attempting to deploy a
Officer Herring then swerved into tire deflation device.
a median and was thrown from his
motorcycle and impacted a palm
tree. Officer Herring succumbed to
his injuries after being transported
to a hospital.

Chief of Police Deputy Sheriff

Anthony Rickerson Brett Harris
Jasper, Florida, P.D. Riverside County, California, S.O.
EOW: JUNE 11, 2023 EOW: MAY 13, 2023

Chief Rickerson was killed in a On May 12, 2023, Deputy Sheriff

single-vehicle automobile crash while Harris was injured in an automobile
responding to assist officers with a crash while responding to a call
disturbance call. While en route, Chief for service. Deputy Harris suffered
Rickerson struck a deer in the roadway a catastrophic brain injury and
causing his patrol vehicle to strike succumbed to his injuries on May 13,
a tree and then the vehicle became 2023.
engulfed in flames. Chief Rickerson
was pronounced dead at the scene.

2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT | 7

 OTHER CAUSES AND
16
FATALITIES
The ‘Other’ category in this report contains a wide Fourteen additional officers died of other causes
variety of health-related deaths and other line-of- during the first half of 2023, compared to 18 similar
duty fatalities. Sixteen officers are listed in the Other fatalities last year during this same period. Eight
category. officers died from health-related illnesses, such as
heart attacks and strokes, while the remaining six
In the first half of 2023, only two officers have been
officers died as a result of falling, drowning, fire-
reported as having succumbed to complications
related incidents, and aircraft crashes.
from Covid-19, compared to 72 such officers in the
same time period in 2022.

OTHER CAUSES OF FATALITIES

THROUGH MID-YEAR

BY CIRCUMSTANCE BY DECADE

Physical-related 8 1970s 23
COVID-19 2
1980s 19
Falling 2
Aircraft crash 2 1990s 19

Fire incident 1 2000s 18

Drowning 1
2010s 33

2020s 121
Note: Mid-Year is from January 1 through June 30

8 | 2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT

OFFICERS FALLEN: OTHER CAUSES

Deputy Sheriff Port Police Officer

Asson Anthony Hacker Kimberly Sickafoose
Vanderburgh County, Indiana, S.O.E Alabama Port Authority Police
EOW: MARCH 2, 2023 EOW: MAY 11, 2023
Deputy Sheriff Hacker suffered a Port Police Officer Sickafoose
medical emergency while participating drowned after her patrol vehicle
in a department sanctioned training. went into the Mobile River in Mobile,
Deputy Hacker was transported to a Alabama. Officer Sickafoose’s body
hospital where he passed away. was recovered later that morning.

Corporal Supervisory Customs

Scotty Canezaro & Border Protection Officer
(pictured top) Jacqueline Montanaro
Sergeant U.S. Customs and Border Protection
David Poirrier EOW: FEBRUARY 19, 2022
(pictured bottom)
Supervisory CPB Officer Montanaro
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, P.D. died from injuries she sustained
EOW: MARCH 26, 2023 while attempting to rescue
her daughter from a fire. After
Corporal Canezaro and Sergeant evacuating her burning home with
David Poirrier were assisting with a her husband and eldest daughter,
vehicle pursuit while in a helicopter she re-entered the residence to
when the helicopter crashed in a rescue her youngest daughter
cane field when they were headed who was still in the home. Officer
back to Baton Rouge after the Montanaro was found unconscious
vehicle pursuit was cancelled. with trauma to her body and was
transported to a hospital where
she succumbed to her injuries. Her
youngest daughter did not survive
the fire.

2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT | 9

 DEMOGRAPHICS
OF FATALITIES
In the first half of 2023, 6 officers from the state and West Virginia. One Federal officer died as well.
of Louisiana and 4 officers each from the states of Twenty-Six states, the District of Columbia, Tribal
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were killed in the line and U.S. Territories did not lose an officer in the first
of duty. Three officers each from California, Florida, half of the year.
Indiana, New Jersey and Oklahoma, and 2 officers
each from the states of Illinois, Missouri, New York, Looking at gender, 47 fallen officers were male and 5
Ohio, and Tennessee died as well. One officer died in were female. The average age of the fallen officers was
the states of Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, 40 years, with an average of 12 years of service. On
Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, average, each fallen officer left behind two children.

FATALITIES BY STATE
THROUGH MID-YEAR ME
0

WI VT NH
4 0 0

WA ID MT ND MN IL MI NY MA
1 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 0

OR NV WY SD IA IN OH PA NJ CT RI
1 0 0 0 0 3 2 4 3 0 0

CA UT CO NE MO KY WV VA MD DE
3 0 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 0

AZ NM KS AR TN NC SC FED
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1
DC
0 U.S.
OK LA MS AL GA
3 6 1 2 1 TERR
0
HI AK TX FL TRIBAL
0 0 1 3 0

26 States and DC
Number of Fatalities: 4-6 1-3 0 had zero fatalities

10 | 2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT

 FATALITIES BY DEMOGRAPHIC
THROUGH MID-YEAR

GENDER AGE

Male 47 Youngest 23

Female 5 Average 40

Oldest 72

TOUR OF DUTY LENGTH NUMBER OF CHILDREN

Shortest 3 months Least 0

Average 12 years Average 2

Longest 34 years Most 5

JURISDICTION

City 29

Sheriff 12

State/Tpr/Hwy Patrol 9

Federal 1

University 1

Note: Mid-Year is from January 1 through June 30

2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT | 11

 NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS MEMORIAL
HONOR, RESPECT, REMEMBER
OFFICIAL NAMES FROM JANUARY 1, 2023 – JUNE 30, 2023
A place of honor, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial features the names of the Official
Line-of-Duty Fallen Heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Here, you may search for those who
have been so honored — those whose names are engraved on the Memorial wall to be remembered and
revered forever.

Since 1786, more than 23,000 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty. The National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial ensures that those who gave their lives to protect and serve their
communities are remembered for generations to come, while providing a place where survivors can
spend a quiet moment paying tribute to their loved ones.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the foremost organization that memorializes
law enforcement heroes who die in the line of duty, offers an official monthly announcement sharing the
number of fallen who have been through our stringent review process. As of June 30, 2023, 46 officers,
both recent and historical, have been designated as Official Line-of-Duty Fallen Heroes and will be added
to the Memorial in the Spring of 2024.

12 | 2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT

2023 MID-YEAR PRELIMINARY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FATALITIES REPORT | 13
 444 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
www.LawMemorial.org
[email protected]