Background on the Issue
Causa en Común, a Mexican organization dedicated to monitoring security issues, recently released data showing an 8% increase in police killings compared to 2024. This alarming trend highlights the escalating risks faced by law enforcement officers in Mexico.
Key Statistics
- Total Police Killings: In 2025, a total of 336 police officers were killed, averaging one officer killed per day.
- Comparison to 2024: In the same period of 2024, there were 309 police killings.
- State-wise Distribution: Five states accounted for 52.3% of the registered cases in 2025.
- Sinaloa: With 46 police killings (13.6% of the total), Sinaloa had the highest number of cases.
- Guerrero: Guerrero followed with 37 police killings (11% of the total).
- Guanajuato: Guanajuato came in third with 36 police killings (10.7% of the total).
- Michoacán: Michoacán had 33 police killings (9.8% of the total) as part of a federal government-led pacification plan.
- Veracruz: Veracruz reported 24 police killings (7.1% of the total).
- Corporations Affected: Municipal forces accounted for 65% (217 officers), followed by state forces with 29% (99 officers), and federal forces with 6% (20 officers).
- Gender Distribution: Of the 336 killed, 311 were male and 25 were female.
- Active Status: 59% (196 officers) of those killed were active duty, while 28% (95 officers) were off-duty. The remaining 13 cases had no available data, and 6% (21 officers) were former police.
Contextual Factors
The rise in police killings can be partly attributed to ongoing internal conflicts within drug cartels. In Sinaloa, for instance, two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have been engaged in violent confrontations since late 2023, following a reported betrayal by Ismael “Mayo” Zambada to U.S. authorities regarding Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the infamous Chapo Guzmán.
Historical Perspective
Causa en Común’s data also sheds light on the trend over the past six years. Since Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s administration began in 2019, there have been 430 police killings. In contrast, during the first 15 months of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration (from December 1, 2018, to February 2020), there were 579 police killings.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? The number of police officers killed in Mexico has increased by 8% in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to Causa en Común.
- Which states have the highest number of police killings? Sinaloa leads with 46 cases, followed by Guerrero (37), Guanajuato (36), Michoacán (33), and Veracruz (24).
- What percentage of police killings involved which types of forces? Municipal forces accounted for 65% (217 officers), state forces for 29% (99 officers), and federal forces for 6% (20 officers).
- What are the contributing factors to this rise in police killings? Ongoing internal conflicts within drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel factions’ violent confrontations in Sinaloa, play a significant role.
- How does this trend compare to previous administrations? Since Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s administration began in 2019, there have been 430 police killings. During the first 15 months of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration (from December 1, 2018, to February 2020), there were 579 police killings.
