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Nonfatal Injuries to Law Enforcement Officers: A Rise in Assaults
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4 2018
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Source: Am J Prev Med. 54(4):503-509
[PDF-559.84 KB]
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Alternative Title:Am J Prev Med
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Description:Introduction:
Limited studies exist that describe nonfatal work-related injuries to law enforcement officers (LEOs). The aim of this study is to provide national estimates and trends of nonfatal injuries to LEOs from 2003 through 2014.
Methods:
Nonfatal injuries were obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System - Occupational Supplement (NEISS-Work). Data were obtained for injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) from 2003–2014. Nonfatal injury rates were calculated using denominators from the Current Population Survey. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze temporal trends. Data were analyzed in 2016–2017.
Results:
Between 2003 and 2014, an estimated 669,100 LEOs were treated in U.S. EDs for nonfatal injuries. The overall rate of 635 per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) was three times higher than the all other U.S. worker rate (213 per 10,000 FTE). The three leading injury events were assaults & violent acts (35%), bodily reactions & exertion (15%), and transportation incidents (14%). Injury rates were highest for the youngest officers aged 21–24 years. Male and female LEOs had similar nonfatal injury rates. Rates for most injuries remained stable; however, rates for assault-related injuries grew among LEOs between 2003 and 2011.
Conclusions:
NEISS-Work data demonstrate a significant upward trend of nonfatal assaults among U.S. LEOs and this warrants further investigation. Police-citizen interactions are dynamic social encounters and evidence-based policing is vital to the health and safety of both police and civilians. The law enforcement community should energize efforts towards the study of how policing tactics impact both officer and citizen injuries.
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Pubmed ID:29395571
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC11323285
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