Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said he was outraged at reports of six officers being shot in the past five days. He called on Congress to take further action to prevent violence targeting law enforcement officers by passing the Protect and Serve Act.
“So far this year, there have been 161 officers shot in the line of duty, and 20 killed. There have been 33 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers resulting in 42 officers shot, and six killed,” Yoes said. “This includes six officers shot in the last five days in California, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin. We cannot let this continue, and Congress needs to act now.”
Background of the Protect and Serve Act
The passage of the Protect and Serve Act is a top legislative priority of the FOP. The House overwhelmingly passed this legislation in 2018. The bill creates a new Federal offense for anyone who willingly attacks a law enforcement officer.
342 Officers Shot in 2024
In 2024, 342 officers were shot in the line of duty, 50 of whom were killed. There were 61 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement in which 79 officers were shot, and 18 of whom were killed.
“The FOP has been documenting the increased number of attacks against law enforcement since 2015,” Yoes said. “We have repeatedly called on Congress to pass the Protect and Serve Act, and we reiterate that call today with even greater urgency. Our men and women in law enforcement deserve better.”
The bill has been reintroduced as S. 167 in the Senate and currently has 18 co-sponsors. The House companion bill is H.R. 1551 and has 81 cosponsors.
