POST FALLS - When Scot Haug browses line-of-duty officer deaths over the years, he's confident that the Below 100 nonprofit played a role in the lower numbers in recent years.

The Post Falls police chief is an instructor and board director for the nationwide risk management program that aims to reduce the number of law enforcement deaths to less than 100 per year.

The number hasn't been less than 100 since 1943 when it was 91, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). However, since the number dipped to 105 in 2013 (two years after Below 100 started) and 118 in 2014, there's optimism that the goal is within reach.

"2013 had the lowest line-of-duty deaths in more than 70 years," Haug said. "Nobody wearing a badge today has seen it as low as it was in 2013."

In most years over the decades, the number of deaths has been between 150 and 250.

"A lot of the deaths are preventable," Haug said. "Below 100 doesn't take full responsibility for the lower numbers - there's a lot of great risk management programs - but we believe we've made a significant impact across this country. The instructors don't make any money doing it and most use their vacation time."

The only cost to the agencies that want to offer the four-hour training to their employees is traveling expenses for the presenters. The sessions themselves are free.

Most local law enforcement agencies have participated in the program or have at least adopted the principles. It is also taught during the North Idaho Basic Academy at North Idaho College.

"I find the program extremely important for officer safety and will continue to refresh our department in coming years," Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said.

Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Lt. Stu Miller is another Below 100 instructor.

"Due to the inherent nature of the job and circumstances we can't control, there will unfortunately be deaths, but the more we can do to focus on what we can control, the fewer line-of-duty deaths will occur," Miller said.

Participants are given posters for offices and stickers for patrol cars as reminders of the following five Below 100 tenets:

* Wear your seat belt.

* Wear your vest.

* Watch your speed.

* What's important now (WIN)?

* Complacency kills.

"The program is not intended to be critical of officers, but draw attention to some of the causes of death," Haug said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of the 733 fatal police crashes from 1980 to 2008, the officer was not wearing their seat belt in 42 percent of the accidents.

"I was shocked when I saw that number," Haug said.

He said, on occasion, an officer will respond to a non-emergency situation at a high rate of speed, which can result in an accident.

The first officer line-of-duty death this year was in Colorado, when Sgt. Sean Renfro of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office was directing traffic at an accident scene and the driver of a vehicle lost control and struck him.

Haug said when many people think about officer deaths, gunfire immediately comes to mind. But he said often, yearly officer vehicle-related deaths outnumber those by gunfire or knife.

Haug said the vest reminder applies to both bullet-proof vests and reflective vests at accident scenes.

The average age of death of an officer in 2013 was 40 with 14 years of service, so complacency can set in, Haug said.

Safety reminders are posted on walls of the Post Falls police station that can be seen as officers leave for their shift. Outside, officer deaths are posted inside the gated parking area as a last reminder to officers who are departing.

In Idaho, 60 officers have died in the line of duty over the years, according to the ODMP. The last time there was such a tragedy in Kootenai County was in 1998 when Idaho State Police Trooper Linda Huff was killed by gunfire.

"We've been fortunate (to have a low number of deaths) and I don't think that's by accident," Haug said. "Generally speaking, we do follow proper safety protocols in this area. But that doesn't mean we should let our guard down."

• In the line of duty: Nationwide law enforcement line-of-duty deaths

1943 - 91

1954 - 138

1964 - 149

1974 - 279

1984 - 182

1994 - 182

2004 - 166

2007 - 203

2011 - 179

2012 - 125

2013 - 105

2014 - 118

2015 - 1 (through Thursday)

SOURCE: Officer Down Memorial Page