You will not read this in any newspaper in America. But you will read it here — and you will read it right now.
2025 was the year a long-standing goal was finally reached. Line-of-duty deaths totaled 97 (according to ODMP), meeting the objective of a program known as Below 100.
Sixteen years ago, a group of retired cops saw something they didn’t like. Line-of-duty deaths were creeping up, and these retirees had a simple question: What can be done to reduce LODDs to a number below 100?
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They identified five things that individual cops could do to better protect themselves from dying on duty:
- Wear your belt.
- Wear your vest.
- Watch your speed.
- What’s important now (WIN)?
- Remember: complacency kills!
These tenets — identified by “the group of old guys” — were based on common sense. The idea was simple: if each and every cop took these tenets seriously, we could get below 100. For 15 years, that goal was not achieved. But last year it happened.
Do not read this the wrong way. American law enforcement still suffered 97 deaths, and each and every one of them is tragic. A cop died. Spouses, partners, parents, kids and friends are still grieving and will be for years to come. But there are fewer people grieving because the total was below 100. That matters.
How did this happen?
We could talk all day about the “why” and the “how,” but here’s a snapshot:
- More cops wearing their seatbelts.
- More cops wearing their vests.
- More cops watching their speed.
- More cops thinking WIN while doing their job.
- More cops recognizing the danger of complacency.
- Less unnecessary risk-taking.
- More right-side approaches on traffic stops.
- More reflective gear when working on or near roadways.
- More cops sharing their personal close calls with other cops.
- Next time you see a paramedic, say, “Thank you!”
And I’m sure there are other reasons we could add to the list. All of this matters.
Now, the hard part
If you are an executive, share this with your management team. If you are a manager, share it with your supervisors. If you are a supervisor, you are the lynchpin — share this with your team and talk about it. Ask them:
- Why do you think this happened?
- What changed?
- And more importantly: How do we make sure it happens again in 2026?
A message to the street cops reading this
If you’re a street cop reading this, do your part:
- Know the tenets.
- Follow the tenets.
- Talk about them with your partners.
- Set the example.
- Go out of your way to spread the word.
Recognize this truth: bad things do not have to happen.
There are things each of us can do to make sure this goal is achieved again and again. And maybe someday, we can achieve Below 50. Every one of you has a role in making that happen.
Respectfully submitted,
The Old Guys
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