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Determinants of COVID-19 mortality among the US law enforcement officers

Author

Listed:
  • Albert Okunade

    (University of Memphis)

  • Favour Olarewaju

    (University of Memphis)

  • Babasoji Oyemakinde

    (Weill Cornell Medicine)

  • Gregory Lubiani

    (East Texas A&M University)

Abstract

US Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) are professional first responders in public safety, protection, and emergency services. Covid-19 remains a leading cause of death within the LEO workforce population. This study, using 2020–2022 data at the individual, county, and state levels, estimates a Negative Binomial regression model of the determinants of Covid-19 mortality in law enforcement. We find statistically significant variations in Covid-19 induced officer deaths during 2022 (relative to base year 2020), across most geographic regions (relative to the northeast) and in the three largest ethnic population (Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics) areas. Moreover, Covid-19 officer deaths declined significantly in warmer seasons (relative to winter), rose significantly with population density, declined slightly in majority Republican political party states and marginally fell with a rise in household incomes. The mortality effect of state-level face mask duration mandates is surprisingly weak, however. We explore implications of these robust findings for public safety protection considering the newly emerging Covid-19 variants and the need to protect police and community population health during pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Albert Okunade & Favour Olarewaju & Babasoji Oyemakinde & Gregory Lubiani, 2025. "Determinants of COVID-19 mortality among the US law enforcement officers," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joprea:v:42:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s12546-025-09393-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12546-025-09393-y
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