Washington Officers Face Higher Shooting Rate Than Idaho
FBI figures for 2025 show Washington law enforcement was shot at more often per capita than Idaho law enforcement.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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In 2025, Washington law enforcement officers were shot at 80 times, compared with 16 times for Idaho officers, according to FBI data. The Washington rate of 1 per 100,000 residents was 28.2 percent higher than Idaho's rate of 0.78.
Why it matters
The comparison highlights differences in officer safety between the two neighboring states at a time when Washington faced a staffing shortage. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs reported that the officer staffing gap widened from 2024 to 2025.
FBI data for 2025 recorded 80 shootings at Washington officers versus 16 in Idaho, with Washington also reporting 25 assaults per 100,000 residents compared with 21 in Idaho. Average sentencing for assaulting a peace officer in Idaho could not be obtained for comparison.
The players
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The FBI is the principal federal law enforcement agency of the United States and the source of the national crime data used to measure shootings at and assaults on officers.
Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs is a statewide organization representing law enforcement leaders that reported the widening officer staffing gap.
The details
Washington ranked last nationally in officers per capita for the 15th consecutive year, with 1.37 officers per 1,000 residents compared with Idaho's 1.55. Washington added a net 68 officers from 2024 to 2025 while its population grew by more than 79,000.
Timeline
- 2024 to 2025: Washington's net officer gain of 68 occurs as the state's population grows by more than 79,000.
- 2025: FBI records shootings at and assaults on officers in Washington and Idaho.
- 2025: Washington ranks last nationally in officers per capita for the 15th straight year.
Legal Context
The FBI's annual tracking of assaults and shootings directed at officers provides the national baseline against which Washington's and Idaho's 2025 rates are compared. Washington's higher shooting rate arrives as the state continues to rank last nationally in officers per capita.
Washington residents may notice the state's officer staffing shortage in slower police response times, since the state ranks last nationally in officers per capita. The officer gap is tied to local public safety resources in communities across the state.
The takeaway
Washington's officer shooting rate exceeded Idaho's in 2025, and its staffing gap widened even as the population grew. Residents interested in public safety resources should track how the state responds to its officer shortage.
Further reading
For more on how officer safety is tracked across the state, see Law Enforcement coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NonStop Local KHQ.
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