Assaults occurring in police stations involve both law enforcement officers as victims and, less commonly, civilians under police custody. Nationally, over 60,000 law enforcement officers were assaulted while performing their duties in 2020, according to FBI data, with many of these incidents taking place at or near police facilities[1]. During 2023, Department of Justice data indicated that 26,689 officers suffered injuries from assaults, highlighting the high-risk environment within police stations and on duty in general[7].
Fatal and non-fatal assaults on police officers can result in serious consequences. Over a 2-year period covering 2021-2022, there were 6,680 non-fatal injuries to police officers involving an assault that required at least one day away from work or reassignment[3]. Of these, a significant proportion led to a week or more of missed work[3].
Law enforcement stations can also be settings where civilians experience assault—either by police or by other detainees. Reports show that police use of force, including physical assault, is a recurrent issue: an estimated 250,000 civilians are injured each year by law enforcement officers, with about 75,000 suffering non-fatal injuries requiring hospital treatment[5]. Additionally, complaints of police misconduct are recorded at high volumes; more than 320,000 civilian complaints of police misconduct were filed from 2016 to 2022[4]. However, only about one in every seven complaints is ruled in favor of civilians[4].
Incidents of deadly force within police stations are rare but do occur and contribute to the broader statistics of fatalities involving law enforcement. In 2023, more than 1,100 fatal police shootings were recorded, with a disproportionate impact on Black Americans and other minorities[6]. Less than three percent of police killings result in officers being charged with a crime[2].
The environment within police stations—where physical restraints, weapons, and stressful interactions are common—places both officers and civilians at risk of assault. Law enforcement remains one of the most dangerous professions due to high rates of violence, including assaults within station settings[7].
References
- [1] FBI Releases Statistics for Law Enforcement Officers Assaulted and Killed in the Line of Duty
- [2] 2024 Police Violence Report
- [3] Fatal and non-fatal violence to police officers during 2012–2022
- [4] Police Scorecard
- [5] U.S. Data on Police Shootings and Violence
- [6] People shot to death by U.S. police 2017-2024, by race – Statista
- [7] Law Enforcement Safety
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