96 Total On-Duty Security Deaths in 2024
2024 Annual Security/Special Police Deaths/Injuries Report

The information below consists of the injuries, deaths, assaults, kidnappings, and violent attacks against Private Security and Private Police officers in 2024.

This statistical data has been curated from law enforcement reports, news media outlets, employers, and verified sources, however, the totals do not reflect all deaths or injuries that may have happened, only those that our office has collected and verified. We believe that the true total numbers are at least 10-15 percent more than we are reporting.

On-Duty Deaths

2024 Officer Line of Duty Deaths

- 96 Total On-Duty Deaths
- 67 Murders (85% firearm-related)
- 17 Medical or Work/Related Deaths
- 9 Motor Vehicle Accidents
- 3 Drownings

Assaults

- 313 Security Officers Shot
- 1,707 Security Officer Injuries
- 1,144 Incidents Involving Firearms
- 3 Reported Kidnappings

Additional On-Duty Deaths

- 2 "Known On-Duty" Sucides

Top 6 States for Officer Homicides

1. California
2. Illinois 
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. New York
6. Georgia   privateofficerbreakingnews.blogspot.com


Harnessing AI to Curb Shoplifting
As communities struggle with shoplifting, Northern CA business turns to AI
Last year, Californians overwhelmingly passed Proposition 36, a package of laws to help crack down on retail theft. While some communities continue to struggle with shoplifting, some are turning to artificial intelligence to help catch criminals.

So, CBS News Sacramento's Dominic Garcia spoke to one store that's using it and put it to the test. It's called Veesion, and it's something Kaur has been using at the Winters Market to catch shoplifters, a problem that costs them around $40,000 a year.

"It basically analyzes a live video stream and it detects for specific gestures that people make when they're shoplifting," said Hiren Mowji, the head of business development for Veesion. And when it does, it sends an alert to store staff with video of the alleged theft.

"We review it a couple of times to make sure it's accurate info and is they're about to walk out then we would confront them," Kaur said. "Essentially like your full-time security staff watching the store 24/7," Mowji said.

Mowji says demand has been strong, especially for mom-and-pop places like the Winters Market. "You can't have staff actively watching the screen monitoring cameras all day long, it's just not cost-effective," Mowji said. And neither is shoplifting. This helps cut down on both and it worked when we put it to the test multiple times.

Veesion is a subscription-based service that connects to existing surveillance systems. They say they don't store people's personal data and are currently working with big box stores and smaller ones like Winters Market. cbsnews.com


The Gap Between Crime Data & Perception
US cities largely saw a drop in violent crime in 2024, yet many still feel unsafe
As U.S. police departments release preliminary or finalized 2024 crime numbers, many are reporting historic declines in homicides and drops in other violent crimes compared to 2023. In many parts of the country, though, those decreases don't match the public perception.

Experts say most cities are seeing a drop in crime levels that spiked during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they say misleading campaign rhetoric in the runup to the November elections and changes in how people interpret news about crime have led to a perception gap.

Violence interruption and intervention programs have helped decrease gun violence and homicide numbers in Chicago and elsewhere, Smith said. But even with fewer crimes, people experiencing it in their neighborhood lowers their perception of being safe.

Jeff Asher, cofounder of AH Datalytics, tracks crimes across the country using law enforcement data for the group's Real-Time Crime Index. He said the data, which lags by about 45 days rather than being reported quarterly or annually like a lot of crime statistics, allows communities and experts to evaluate and respond to trends as they are happening.

Early in 2024, Asher noticed cities were largely seeing historic declines in homicide numbers, but much more muted declines in other violent crimes.

New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston, Detroit, Baltimore and dozens of other cities have reported drops in homicides last year compared to 2023. Some saw small decreases, including New York, which had 14 fewer homicides than the 391 reported in 2023. But others had large decreases, including Philadelphia, which had 255 in 2024 compared to 398 in 2023. seattlepi.com


CA City Makes the List of 'Watchlist Cities' for Violent Crime Surge
Murders, Shootings & Property Crime is Surging

Vallejo, California: A City Grappling with a Crime Crisis

Vallejo has gained notoriety as one of the watchlist cities for small municipalities plagued by rising crime.

As Southern California contends with raging wildfires, Northern California’s Vallejo, a city of approximately 120,000 residents located 30 miles northeast of San Francisco, is battling a different inferno: an alarming surge in violent crime. Once known as a quiet suburban community, Vallejo has gained notoriety as one of the watchlist cities for small municipalities plagued by rising crime.

Rising Crime in Vallejo

According to police data, Vallejo experienced 23 murders from January to November 2024—a shocking figure for a city of its size. This marks a significant increase compared to previous years, as the city grapples with pervasive issues of gun violence and homicide.

In addition to violent crimes, property crimes have surged, with 1,101 auto burglary/theft cases reported in 2024. There were also 200 shootings reported within the year, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Community Outcry and Statewide Attention

Residents of Vallejo have not been silent about the growing dangers in their community. A petition initially launched in late 2023 has gained new momentum as residents demand that California Governor Gavin Newsom deploy state and county law enforcement officers to assist Vallejo with its spiraling crime problem.  substack.com


'Locked Up and Losing Out'
How retailers are balancing security measures with customer experience
Walgreens and retailers are dealing with a delicate balancing act between securing goods from theft while ensuring that security measures don’t drive customers away. Recent insights from Walgreens and the National Retail Federation (NRF) illustrate the complexity of this issue and highlight strategies retailers are employing to address it.

Facing a 52% increase in stolen inventory, Walgreens resorted to locking up a wide range of products. However, as CEO Tim Wentworth noted during a January earnings call, this approach backfired. Locked merchandise deterred potential thieves, but it also alienated customers, reducing overall sales. The company reported a significant operating loss of $245 million for the quarter and is now seeking new solutions to combat theft without shedding customers.

A key challenge lies in tailoring security measures to individual store environments and product categories. High-theft items like cosmetics, over-the-counter medications and electronics are often secured with locks or tags, or are completely removed from sales floors. Yet, the broader impact of these measures, including longer wait times for assistance and reduced convenience, can deter customers from making purchases altogether. freightwaves.com


Boise Police working to stop organized retail theft to keep costs low for customers

Tulsa police achieve rare 100% solve rate for 2024 homicides, first since 1979
 

The Top 5 Takeaways from NRF 2025 Retail Big Show

By Tony D'Onofrio - President, Sensormatic

What an exhausting, exciting, inspiring, highly motivating week in New York on the annual pilgrimage to the National Retail Federation retail Big Show to experience the future of retail. For the week, logged nearly 100,000 steps or 42 miles (67.5 Km) in visiting stores, engaging retailers, walking the show floor, meeting analysts, and showcasing new innovations for Sensormatic.

On stage in a Sensormatic sponsored event with the retailer PVH, in my opening comments, I congratulated the audience for working in one of the most vibrant industries in the world. In 2025, the global industry will grow to nearly $33 trillion, growing at roughly 4% per year through 2026.

By 2026, 76% of total global retail sales will still be physical stores. The growth gap for online sales and stores is narrowing. Growing middle classes in large economies and emerging countries will keep the industry thriving for many years to the come.

This article summarizes my top 5 data supported takeaways from the 2025 edition of the Retail Big Show. One of these trends offers a counter view that needs to be addressed to keep the retail industry positively moving forward. Multiple of the quotes cited in this article are directly from attendees or from articles published the same week.

   Click here to read Tony's full article


The End of OSHA's COVID Rules
OSHA Updates: COVID Rulemaking Terminated, Fines Increase

Best way to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases is to complete Infectious Diseases rulemaking.

On January 15, OSHA announced that it has terminated its COVID-19 healthcare rulemaking.

On June 21, 2021, OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard to protect workers from COVID-19 in healthcare settings, which also served as a proposed rule on which OSHA requested comments. The agency received public input on this proposal during multiple comment periods and public hearings from June 2021 through May 2022. OSHA submitted a draft final COVID-19 rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget on Dec. 7, 2022.

On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed into law House Joint Resolution 7, which terminated the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With today’s announcement, OSHA is now terminating the rulemaking because the most effective and efficient use of agency resources to protect healthcare workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19, as well as a host of other infectious diseases, is to focus its resources on the completion of an Infectious Diseases rulemaking for healthcare. ehstoday.com


What Is Really Driving Inflation?
Is Grocery Store Price Gouging a Concern — and Was It Real in the First Place?
An almost universal complaint among American consumers coming from all walks of life: the price of groceries. Whether one is working class, middle class, upper class, or belonging to the jetsetting crowd, the price of eggs, milk, meat, bread, and other staples was hotly debated as COVID-19 began a steep climb in prices.

Supply chain issues were set against corporate greed in the popular narrative as two tales spun out differing stories of what had happened at the checkout, but the reality remained simple enough — groceries had surged in price. Who was to blame, and why?

According to NPR, grocery prices soared by 25.6% between February 2020 and July 2024, outpacing even the breakneck pace of overall inflation during that period, which stood at a remarkable 21.6%. retailwire.com


What Are the Best Ways To Increase Sales in a Physical Retail Setting?

As Luxury Slows, Paris Department Stores Bet Big on Menswear Growth
 

Last week's #1 article --