“In the Line of Duty”

1-Officer Units & 2-Officer Units

Fact or Fiction 

By Ron Martin (President - El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association)

It has been rumored that patrol shifts are to be deployed on a 70/30 or 80/20 and even 100 % solo ratio when it comes to Solo Units vs. Full Crew Units.  Commanders are being told to deploy personnel in this manner to accomplish department goals, budget issues, lack of police officers and now the newest MGT Study.  Officer Safety is a very touchy subject when it comes to Solo Unit vs. Full Crew Unit deployments.  I have done a large amount of research in this field and here are the facts and numbers to backup my conclusions.  Numerous corporations, federal agencies and law enforcement groups have completed enormous studies and formulated ideas about Officer Safety and Solo Units. All the information below comes from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s US Department of Justice Uniform Crime Reporting Program.  The following entities are members of the program and published the report. 

• Criminal Justice Information Systems Committee
• International Association of Chief’s of Police
• Criminal Justice Information Services Committee
• National Sheriffs’ Association
• Criminal Justice Information Services Advisory Policy Board

 This information was published in October 2010, for 2009, and the report was taken from statical information from over 11,000 reporting agencies with over 600,000 officers represented, of which El Paso is included.  This information pertains directly to officers assaulted or killed in the line of duty.  It should also be noted that the officers killed in the line of duty during September 11^thare not included in the tabulations.  The unique deaths of officers on September 11^thcould not be used due to the circumstances surrounding their deaths.  If their deaths were included then the numbers would skew national data trends.  You must also realize that this same report is one of the tools used to vote El Paso as the 1^stSafest City in the United States.  We should look at the report in its entirety and not just select the parts that make El Paso look good. 

Officers Killed in the Line of Duty 

• From 2000 to 2009 over 536 fellow officers were Feloniously Killed in the Line of Duty in the United States.
• The majority of officers killed in the Line of Duty were wearing body armor and in full uniform.
• Texas was 1^stin the nation in regards to Officers killed in the Line of Duty with 53 deaths.
• The time period in which the highest number of officers was killed was from 2000 hrs to 0200 hrs.
• The days where most officers were killed in the Line of Duty were Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays.
• The Officer Profile that suffered the most deaths in the Line of Duty was Male Officers from 31 to 40 years of age with over ten years of service. 

Officer Accidentally Killed in the Line of Duty  

• From 2000 to 2009 over 728 fellow officers were Accidentally Killed in the Line of Duty in the United States.
• Texas was 1^st in the nation in regards to Officers Accidentally killed in the Line of Duty with 80 deaths
• The time period in which the highest number of officers was accidentally killed was 2000 hrs to 0400 hrs.

Officers Assaulted in the Line of Duty 

• From 2000 to 2009 over 57,268 fellow officers were assaulted in the Line of Duty in the United States.
• The time period in which the highest number of officers were assaulted was from 1800 hrs to 0400 hrs.
• Texas was 3^rdin the nation in regards to Officers Assaulted with 4,679.

Recap or Overview

• From 2000 to 2009 over 1,264 fellow officers were Feloniously Killed or Accidentally Killed in the Line of Duty in the United States.
• From 2000 to 2009 over 57,268 fellow officers were assaulted in the Line of Duty in the United States.
• The most dangerous working times are from 1800 to 0400 Hrs.  This includes both Evening and Graveyard Shifts.
• You may have also realized that Texasis always 1^stor 2^nd in all categories.

The most disturbing information is listed below.  Out of the 536 officers killed in the Line of Duty:

 Assignment Type                            Number of Officers Killed        Number of Officers Assaulted

2-Officer Vehicle (Full Crew)                        54                                10,801            

1-Officer Vehicle (Solo)                               154                               14,321

1-Officer Vehicle (Solo Assisted)                      154                               21,128            

Foot Patrol (Solo)                                                 3      (Det or Spec)         807             

Foot Patrol (Solo Assisted)                                   0      (Det or Spec)      1,925            

Other (Solo)                                                        23                                2,127            

Other (Solo Assisted)                                          98                                6,159            

Off Duty (Solo)                                               50                                Not Reported

Deaths           

• If you do the math and just look at solo vs. full crew (154 vs. 54 Deaths), the numbers speak for themselves.  If you work solo you have a 65% greater chance of being killed than working in a full crew unit.
• If you look at all the numbers and total up all solo type units (482 vs. 54 Deaths), you have an 89% greater chance of being killed while working solo or without a partner.
• The worst times to work solo is from 1800 to 0400 Hrs.

Assaults

• If you work solo you have a 25% greater chance of being assaulted than working in a full crew unit (10,801 vs. 14,321 Assaults).
• If you look at all the numbers and total up all solo type units (46,467 vs. 10,801 Assaults), you have a 77% greater chance of being assaulted while working solo or without a partner.
• The worst times to work solo is from 1800 to 0400 Hrs.

In conclusion, I have heard from a number of people who have said that you can make numbers say whatever you wish them to say, so your calculations cannot be quantified as being correct.  The simple fact is that when you work solo you are at a greater risk than if you are working full crew.  I have also heard that El Paso can not be measured to the national standards because we have only lost a few officers Killed in the Line of Duty in the last 15 years.  I am not here to argue the facts or to sway anybody one way or the other.  My opinion has nothing to do with facts.  The facts speak for themselves and I cannot disagree with them.  Yes, an officer may be more safety orientated working solo, but the big question is does the suspect know that?  Common sense tells us that if a suspect sees only one officer and not two, he may try something. The suspect stands a better chance of escape if he kills or assaults you.  Let’s face facts, when we, as police officers, walk up to a suspect or a home, two sets of eyes are always better than one.  Why do we call for backup, we all know that more officers at a scene can reduce the stupidity of others.

The next big question is why?  Why do we put out solo units out and not all full crew units?  Should money and staffing shortages be placed ahead of Officer Safety?  What time of day should solo units be deployed?  Should the deployments be 50/50, 70/30, 80/20 or all solo units?  What mathematical calculations should be used for troop deployments?  These are all very good questions.  Are we being stretched too thin and one day some officer may pay the ultimate price?  All I do know is that Officer Safety should be the first thought in the minds of the Command Staff and City Leaders when troop deployments are being discussed and implemented.  Facts should always be sought and personal opinions should not be introduced to the equation.  This article was written to inform all and not to discredit officials that are attempting to lead us into the future.  An officer dieing on your watch is not something I wish upon my worst enemy, especially if it could have been prevented. Remember that Leadership is action, not position.