While many were celebrating the 4th of July, our office compiled the semi-annual death and injury report for US security officers and sworn private police.

For the first half of 2018, security officers and sworn private law enforcement officers were injured, assaulted or attacked in access of 33,000 times.

65 of these officers lost their lives while protecting life and property.

Of these officers who were killed, 33 died from gunfire, 8 died from bladed instrument assaults, nine were killed in vehicle crashes including bicycle, golf cart, automobile and a snow mobile.

Two others died from drownings, 6 from medical emergencies, 4 died from vehicle assaults and 3 died from traumatic injuries. Another nine security officers including 5 that have been directly linked to their employment in security, died shortly after their shift.Of the 65 security officers who died in the line of duty, we have been able to verify that only 7 were armed with a firearm.

None of the deceased were wearing body armor that we have been able to confirm.

In two of the deaths, the security officers killed were not found for more than twenty-four hours.

During the first six months of 2018, security officers have been involved in over 3000 armed confrontations and at least 743 lethal force incidents involving gun-battles and exchange of gunfire resulting in 107 fatal shootings by private security officers.

Statistics and data collected via news reports, public records, law enforcement press releases and our own research has shown that incidents of violence involving security officers has increased 117 percent in the past five years with more security officers engaging in the use of force and being victims of physical and deadly force.

Consistent with the past five years data, security officer use of force, engagement of lethal force and types of customers where security were on duty when injuries or deaths occurred included: apartments and residential communities including hotels and motels, , nightclubs, construction sites, mobile patrols, loss prevention and temporary assignments.