According to records, 2019 proved to be one of the safest years in history for American police officers. Altogether, 131 police officers lost their lives last year, which is the lowest total since 1959, when 122 died in the line of duty. This has been linked to better training and improved vigilance, as well as improved equipment and more access to quality healthcare. For comparison, 166 officers lost their lives in 2018.
While recognizing that the country has become a safer place for police officers, it is important to note that these civil servants continue to be the object of malicious attacks and much more work needs to be done to keep the number of fatalities moving toward zero.
