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Number of law enforcement officers in the U.S. 2004-2017
Number of law enforcement officers in the U.S. 2004-2017
Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2017
by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Aug 9, 2019
How many police officers are there in the U.S.?
In 2017, there were 670,279 full-time law enforcement officers employed in the United States. The number of full-time law enforcement officers reached a peak in 2008 with 708,569 officers, and hit a low in 2013 with 626,942 officers.
Employment in law enforcement
According to the source, law enforcement officers are defined as those individuals who regularly carry a firearm and an official badge on their person, have full powers of arrest, and whose salaries are paid from federal funds set aside specifically for sworn law enforcement. Law enforcement, particularly when it comes to officers, is a male-dominated field. Law enforcement employees can either be officers or civilians, and federal law enforcement agencies cover a wide area of jurisdictions -- from the National Park Service to the FBI.
Police in the United States
The police in the United States have come under fire over the past few years for accusations of use of unnecessary force and for the number of people who are shot to death by police in the U.S. Police officers in the United States are regularly armed, and in comparison, 19 countries, including Iceland, New Zealand, and Ireland, do not regularly arm their police forces.
Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2017
Loading statistic...
| Number of law enforcement officers | |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 670,279 |
| 2016 | 652,936 |
| 2015 | 635,781 |
| 2014 | 627,949 |
| 2013 | 626,942 |
| 2012 | 670,439 |
| 2011 | 698,460 |
| 2010 | 705,009 |
| 2009 | 706,886 |
| 2008 | 708,569 |
| 2007 | 699,850 |
| 2006 | 683,396 |
| 2005 | 673,146 |
| 2004 | 675,734 |
| Number of law enforcement officers | |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 670,279 |
| 2016 | 652,936 |
| 2015 | 635,781 |
| 2014 | 627,949 |
| 2013 | 626,942 |
| 2012 | 670,439 |
| 2011 | 698,460 |
| 2010 | 705,009 |
| 2009 | 706,886 |
| 2008 | 708,569 |
| 2007 | 699,850 |
| 2006 | 683,396 |
| 2005 | 673,146 |
| 2004 | 675,734 |
© Statista 2019
About this statistic
Sources: FBI; US Bureau of Justice Statistics
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by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Aug 9, 2019
How many police officers are there in the U.S.?
In 2017, there were 670,279 full-time law enforcement officers employed in the United States. The number of full-time law enforcement officers reached a peak in 2008 with 708,569 officers, and hit a low in 2013 with 626,942 officers.
Employment in law enforcement
According to the source, law enforcement officers are defined as those individuals who regularly carry a firearm and an official badge on their person, have full powers of arrest, and whose salaries are paid from federal funds set aside specifically for sworn law enforcement. Law enforcement, particularly when it comes to officers, is a male-dominated field. Law enforcement employees can either be officers or civilians, and federal law enforcement agencies cover a wide area of jurisdictions -- from the National Park Service to the FBI.
Police in the United States
The police in the United States have come under fire over the past few years for accusations of use of unnecessary force and for the number of people who are shot to death by police in the U.S. Police officers in the United States are regularly armed, and in comparison, 19 countries, including Iceland, New Zealand, and Ireland, do not regularly arm their police forces.
- Sources
- FBI; US Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Show further sources information
- As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- September 2018
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 2004 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
The FBI defines law enforcement officers as those who regularly carry a firearm and badge, have full arrest powers, and are paid from governmental funds specifically for sworn law enforcement representatives.
The data from previous years can be accessed here by clicking on the required year, Police Employee Tables, and National Data.
Source
- Sources
- FBI; US Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Show further sources information
- As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- September 2018
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 2004 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
The FBI defines law enforcement officers as those who regularly carry a firearm and badge, have full arrest powers, and are paid from governmental funds specifically for sworn law enforcement representatives.
The data from previous years can be accessed here by clicking on the required year, Police Employee Tables, and National Data.
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