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Officer safety

Protecting our Protectors: Using Science to Improve Officer Safety and Wellness

June 2012

Each year, 100-200 law enforcement officers die in the line of duty. Last year, 177 lost their lives — a 16-percent increase from 2010. As Attorney General Eric Holder noted, this is a devastating and unacceptable trend. NIJ has developed a robust research portfolio to improve officer safety and wellness and, ultimately, save lives. This panel discussed some of NIJ's most promising work to reduce shooting and traffic-related fatalities — consistently the leading causes of officer line-of-duty deaths — and improve officer wellness, which is inextricably linked with officer safety.

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NIJ FY 11 Officer Traffic Safety Research and Technology Development for Criminal Justice Applications

Closing Date

NIJ is seeking applications for funding to conduct research and technology development that will improve officer safety in traffic situations. The objective of this solicitation is to fund research and technology development leading to the implementation of policies, practices, and/or technologies that will reduce the number of officers killed and injured each year in traffic accidents. Specifically, NIJ seeks proposals addressing the following topics:Vehicle accident...

NIJ FY 11 Officer Safety Research and Technology Development for Criminal Justice Applications

Closing Date

NIJ is seeking applications for funding to conduct research and technology development to enhance the safety of law enforcement and corrections officers and other criminal justice practitioners. This solicitation specifically seeks proposals for research and technology development addressing the following three areas:Causes of on-the-job injuries to law enforcement and corrections officers that result in permanent disabilities.Nonmetallic handcuffs.Tripwire detection and marking.