Line of duty deaths increased 55% in 2021 from 2020 among law enforcement officers nationwide, according to the 2021 Law Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).  

A total of 458 officers died in 2021, according to the preliminary data. That number includes officers at the federal, state, local, military, tribal and territorial levels. The leading cause of death, COVID-19, was responsible for 301 line of duty deaths. 

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