Tucson Citizen
Wed, October 27, 1999
More cops die in cars than attacks
Gannett News Service
Traffic accidents kill more police officers than violent assaults, according to a detailed study of police fatalities due out today.
Nearly half of the nation's police officers who died in the fine of duty in 1998 died in traffic accidents, or were struck by cars while walking, says the study by the International Union of Police Associations.
"We normally think of firearms and violence as the big dangers for police," said Rich Roberts, spokesman for the group, which represents more than 80,000 of the nation's 660,000 police officers.
"But for tthe rank-and-file officer, the highway is his workplace, and the cruiser is his office," Roberts said. "Every time he has to engage in a high-speed pursuit, he's putting his life at risk."
The study did not examine the types of fatal traffic accidents, but the association said that roughly half occur at intersections, often during police pursuits. About 30 percent occur when an officer loses control of the car during a high-speed chase. About 20 percent occur when police vehicles collide with suspects' cars.
Roughly 20,000 officers are injured every year, more than 8,000 of them in traffic accidents.
Over the past five years, an average of 159 officers died annually in the line of duty. The association says poorly maintained roads and congestion are largely to blame.
"Emergency vehicles are driving on roads that don't have shoulders, don't have guardrails and are poorly marked," Roberts says. "When you get on the highway, it's not much better. There's so much congestion, it can be hard to get to call in a timely matter.
"We have to get certified to use firearm every year," he said. "But you don't get any driving lessons once you leave the police academy."