PHOTO: National FOP/POLICE Illustration
The National Fraternal Order of Police reports that as of midnight on March 6, 65 officers have been shot in the line of duty so far this year. That marks a 33% increase from 2021 year-to-date (YTD) and a 63% increase over 2020 YTD. Of those officers who were shot so far this year, eight were killed by gunfire.
More officers have been shot in Pennsylvania, eight, than any other state. Missouri has had six officers shot to date this year. In both California and Texas, five officers have been shot. Other states where officers have been shot in 2023, according to the National FOP report, include Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
There have been 18 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers this year. These ambush-style attacks have resulted in 21 officers shot, three of whom was killed by gunfire. The number of ambush-style attacks listed does not include the countless incidents where an officer was shot at but not struck by gunfire during an ambush-style attack.
"This past year was one of the most dangerous years for law enforcement in recent history due to the increase of violence directed towards law enforcement officers as well as the nationwide crime crisis, which has seen criminals emboldened by the failed policies of pandering prosecutors and cynical politicians. So far, this year is not looking better. Frankly, it is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 36 years of law enforcement,” says Patrick Yoes, National FOP president.
“In 2021 we saw more officers shot in the line of duty than any other since the National Fraternal Order of Police began recording this data in late 2015, and 2022 was not far behind. So far this year, the number of officers shot in the line of duty is up 63% from this time in 2020,” Yoes adds.
Yoes says many will often look at this data and just see numbers. But these numbers represent heroes—fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. According to him, without the dramatic improvements in medical trauma science and anti-ballistic technology, the lethality of these attacks would be much greater.
"It is our sincere hope that this new Congress will act swiftly and pass the 'Protect and Serve Act' to address the national problem of ambushes and unprovoked attacks on our nation's law enforcement officers,” he says. "If these violent criminals are willing to commit brazen acts of violence against the men and women of law enforcement, we can't begin to fathom what heinous acts they are willing to commit against law-abiding citizens. As crime rates continue to rise, more citizens in this country are justifiably living in fear, constantly wondering if they too will become a victim.”
“Law-abiding citizens saw the real-life consequences of what happens when elected officials embrace pro-criminal, revolving-door policies and make decisions that put the interests of violent offenders ahead of public safety. These decisions—failures to prosecute violent offenders for their crimes or, even worse, releasing repeat offenders arrested for crimes who show a propensity for escalation of violence — make our communities less safe. These rogue prosecutors are putting innocent lives at risk. When there are no consequences for breaking the law, more people will break the law and crime will increase.”
Yoes says it is incumbent upon elected officials and community leaders to stand up, support officers, and speak out against the violence against police.
