South Sound News

Law enforcement officers face many dangers on the job

KENT, Wash. — After a Kent police officer is killed on the job, KIRO 7 explores the hazards our men and women in blue encounter every day that go beyond armed confrontations.

One of the biggest dangers that every law enforcement officer faces is not always a gun.

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​So far this year, 84 law enforcement officers in this country have died in the line of duty. Thirty-four officers were shot and killed. But 29 officers died in traffic-related accidents.

And there are new risks every day.

Former King County Sheriff John Urquhart spent 43 years in law enforcement before losing the top job last November. But the death of Kent police Officer Diego Moreno, just an eight-year veteran, still hits home.

"We are a family," said Urquhart. "And when a family member dies, especially, especially in the line of duty, it touches us all very deeply."

Officer Moreno was killed early Sunday morning as he laid out spike strips. Moreno was assisting other Kent police officers trying to stop a fleeing vehicle allegedly driven by a 16-year-old Kent teenager. One of his fellow officers struck Moreno. He died at the scene. History shows that is not so unusual.

"When we think about an officer getting killed in the line of duty, we typically think about them being shot by the bad guy, and that happens way too often," said Urquhart. "But in fact, automobile accidents are up there sometimes more than gunfire."

That is borne out by the statistics compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. In 2015, the number of officers shot and killed in the line of duty was 43. But 53 officers died in traffic-related accidents. In 2016, the number of officers shot and killed was 67 but 55 officers died in traffic-related accidents. And in 2017, as many officers were shot and killed as died in traffic accidents. Turns out both circumstances can be lethal.

"And that's been every single year for a long time," said Urquhart. "I think because we are out of the car on a regular basis. Troopers are on the freeway. We're directing traffic. We're arresting DUIs. We're out the middle of the night."

And there are new dangers. Last year, King County sheriff's deputies received training on how to investigate crime scenes involving opioids, including fentanyl.

And Seattle police have had to take special precautions during the controversial sweeps of homeless encampments.

Still Urquhart says a cop's life is less lethal than it was decades ago.

"I think that's better training, better equipment," he believes. "Certainly bullet-resistant vests have made a big difference in that. Better cars that we drive."

But policing, he says, remains dangerous.

"Whether it's fentanyl or whether it's car accidents or whether it's gunfire or knives or mass shootings," Urquhart said, "the danger is still there day in, day out."

 And he predicts that danger will prove deadly for another officer in the future.