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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities
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Police and sherrif’s patrol officers, 2015‐2019
Background
Police and sheriff's patrol officers maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. They perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects; or serve legal processes of courts. This occupation includes police officers working at educational institutions.
As of May 2019, there were 665,280 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $32.50 and the average annual wage was $67,600.
Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses
In this occupation, there were 26,350 nonfatal injury and illness cases requiring days away from work during 2019. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 429.3.
| Case characteristic[1] | Number of cases |
|---|---|
Nature of injury or illness | |
Sprains, strains, tears | 8,230 |
Soreness, pain | 6,340 |
All other natures | 5,070 |
Punctures (except gunshot wounds) | 1,300 |
Bruises, contusions | 1,290 |
Part of body affected | |
Multiple body parts | 4,630 |
Knee | 3,690 |
Back | 2,660 |
Hand | 2,610 |
Shoulder | 2,000 |
Source of injury or illness | |
Person, other than injured or ill workers | 7,420 |
Vehicles | 5,150 |
All other sources | 4,700 |
Worker motion or position | 4,380 |
Floors, walkways, ground surfaces | 2,630 |
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness | |
Injury by person-unintentional or intent unknown | 4,520 |
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles | 3,670 |
Fall on same level | 2,240 |
Intentional injury by other person | 1,990 |
Overexertion in lifting or lowering | 1,370 |
[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses | |
Fatal occupational injuries
Fatal work injuries totaled 86 for police and sheriff's patrol officers during 2019, compared to 108 during 2018.
Sources
Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII and CFOI program concepts and definitions see the SOII Handbook of Methods and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.
Last Modified Date: February 4, 2021