Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: FBI preliminary statistics show 51 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2014. That’s an 89-percent spike when compared to the year before. An average of 64 officers is feloniously killed each year. FBI Section Chief John Derbas…

John Derbas: Eight officers were killed as a result of ambushes; six were due to entrapment or premeditated situations; and two during unprovoked attacks.

Halpern: In response to the increase of ambush attacks, the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, or LEOKA, program is conducting a study on what motivates offenders in these circumstances.

Derbas: It aids law enforcement agencies in developing policies to improve officer safety. As well as we can include instructional points and training, which will encourage law enforcement to become more aware of the potential dangers, which in turn will reduce the risk for serious injury or death.

Halpern: An additional 44 officers were accidentally killed while on the job in 2014 (the majority died in automobile accidents), resulting in a total of 95 law enforcement deaths last year.

Final statistics will be posted on fbi.gov in the fall. I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau with FBI, This Week.