Factors associated with law enforcement shooting deaths: Implications for health policy development

In 2011, 159 officers in the United States were killed in the line of duty. Out of those killed, 63 died from a firearm. This represents a 7% increase of deaths by firearm. The purpose of this study was to investigate state variations in law enforcement deaths from 2005-2011 by analyzing 36 variables. These variables include such factors as total firearm related deaths (homicide, suicide, unintentional, legal intervention), various firearm control laws (22 laws) including whether or not states have concealed carry laws or assault weapon bans, poverty index, racial percentages, per capita alcohol consumption, drug arrest rates, number of firearm dealers, number of pawn shop dealers and violent crime rates were analyzed. A series of descriptive analysis, correlations and t- tests were conducted using SPSS 17.0. Out of all of the variables analyzed only states that permit the open carrying of a firearm had a statistically significant impact on officer death rates. States that allow the carrying of a firearm with no permit had a death rate of 13.67 while states that require a permit had a death rate of 4.34. (t=4.69, df=47, p<0.001). This study adds a new dimension to existing research on firearm related deaths by examining the effects of firearm laws and a variety of independent variables that may be predictive of law enforcement death. Such data can be used to help design public health interventions and local, state, and national advocacy initiatives to reduce injury and mortality in law enforcement officers.