The number of U.S. law enforcement officers who died as a result of felonious acts or were assaulted on duty both dropped last year, the FBI reported today. Forty-eight officers died as a result of criminal acts, compared with 72 in 2011. Last year’s total was more in line with the annual figures from five and 10 years earlier, 41 and 52 respectively. The assault total dropped to 52,901 from 54,774. The largest percentage of assault victims, 32.5 percent, were responding to disturbance calls. Of the 48 felonious deaths, 44 officers were killed with firearms. Twelve officers were killed in arrest situations. Some 47 officers died in accidents, down six from 2011.