Fifty-one police officers died in 2014 as a result of “felonious acts,” according to statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Of those who were killed, 46 were killed by firearms, 33 of those by handguns. Four were killed by vehicles and one was killed with the use of the killer’s hands, fists or feet, according to the Bureau.

The most dangerous type of call was a disturbance. In those cases, 11 officers were killed. Nine were killed while conducting traffic pursuits or stops; seven died after being ambushed; seven were investigating suspicious circumstances; five were conducting investigative activities; four died in arrest situations; four were involved in tactical situations; and three were killed while dealing with mentally ill individuals. One officer died as the result of an unprovoked attack, according to an FBI release.

The killings occurred in 24 states. All of the victims were male and the vast majority were white.

The number of total officer killings jumped from 2013, when 27 officers were killed.

In addition to those officers killed by the actions of others, 45 died in 2014 as a result of accidents on the job.

-Steve Straehley

To Learn More:

FBI Releases 2014 Statistics on Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Law Officers Killed and Assaulted: 2014 (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Honoring Officers Killed in 2015 (Officer Down Memorial Page)

As Killings of Police Decrease, Media Coverage Increases (by Noel Brinkerhoff and Danny Biederman, AllGov)