Hidden Danger: A 22-Years Analysis of Law Enforcement Deaths Associated with Duty-Related Illnesses (1997–2018)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Andrew, Michael E. ; Fekedulegn D ; Shi M ; Violanti JM
• Description:
  Purpose: Law enforcement is a dangerous profession not only due to assaults, accidents and homicides but also due to health risks. This study examined trends in the national frequency and rate of law enforcement job-related illness deaths in the United States over a 22-year period (1997-2018). Design/methodology/approach: Data were obtained from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) on death frequencies related to health issues at work. Death rates were based on the total number of police officers in the United States [rate = (frequency/population at risk) × 100,000]. Trends were examined using standardized regression. Findings: A total of 646 deaths were attributed to job-related illness. There was a significant upward trend in overall job-related illness deaths (frequency analyses: beta = 0.88, p < 0.0001; rate analyses: beta = 0.82, p = 0.0001) mainly driven by a significant increase in 911 cancer deaths (frequency analyses: beta = 0.88, p < 0.0001; rate analyses: beta = 0.88, p = 0.0001). Nearly 82 percent of circulatory deaths were from a heart attack, with an average death age of 46.5 years. Research limitations/implications: Deaths were not included if they failed to meet medical requirements of the NLEOMF. The data are descriptive, do not estimate risk and should be interpreted cautiously. Practical implications: Police wellness programs may help to reduce the danger of deaths associated with job-related illness. Originality/value: This is among the first studies to examine frequency and rate of police health-related deaths due to job exposures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Demography Law Enforcement Mortality Neoplasms Occupational Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Cancer Cancer Cancer Rates Cardiovascular Disease Danger Demographic Characteristics Diseases Heart Attacks Job Related Illness Law Enforcement Officer LEO Mortality Data Mortality Rates Mortality Studies Occupational Diseases Police Deaths Police Officers Regression Analysis Statistical Analysis

  More +
• ISSN:
  1363-951X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  330-344
• Volume:
  43
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059296
• Citation:
  Policing 2020 Apr; 43(2):330-344
• Contact Point Address:
  John M. Violanti, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8a4dfaea415640a5a90e2f92af45520ef7358e497e9275a533db6655eae0cfc53a585a70510e6633e3ba36d315ee42d3bbdc620028c0502e9a80bed8c22f4d24
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223571/cdc_223571_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 307.38 KB ]