Crime Fighting Has Taken Its Toll
Since the first recorded police death in 1786, there have been more than 23,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Currently, there are 23,785 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 1,038 deaths. Texas has lost 1,981 officers, more than any other state. The state with the fewest deaths is Vermont, with 25.