Study finds police officers face higher long-term health risks

Barnes, one of the study’s lead researchers, said the physical and psychological demands of policing can contribute to earlier deaths compared with the general population.

Published in The Lancet Regional Health, the study analyzed more than 15,000 deaths among U.S. law enforcement officers nationwide, looking at all causes of mortality rather than individual incidents or departments. The leading causes of death included heart disease, cancer, suicide and COVID-19 during the pandemic years.

“Law enforcement officers seem to develop these conditions that ultimately lead to early death sooner than the rest of the population,” Barnes told Spectrum News, noting that many of the risks identified are closely linked to chronic stress. He said the findings could help policymakers and police leaders design evidence-based wellness programs and rethink how law enforcement careers are structured to better support officer health over time.

Barnes emphasized that the goal of the research is not to discourage people from entering the profession, but to provide data that can help departments address health risks more effectively throughout officers’ careers.

Featured image at top courtesy of Unsplash.