More than 100,000 law enforcement officers have been attacked in the line of duty in the past two years, and more people have been killed in the past three years than at any time in the past 20 years, according to FBI statistics.
From 2021 to 2023, a shocking 194 police officers were killed in a felony. This is the highest number for any three consecutive years in the past 20 years. special report About the FBI released It was revealed on Tuesday.
Law enforcement agencies across the United States reported to the bureau that a total of 79,091 officers were assaulted in 2023, marking the highest rate of police assault in a decade.
The top two most common situations in which these assaults occurred were when officers responded to simple assaults against non-police officers and when officers responded to drug violations.
According to recent statistics, so far in 2024, 12 law enforcement officers have been killed in felonies and 21 have died in on-the-duty accidents. data.
The special report was released during National Police Week as police organizations raise awareness of the increased violence faced by officers in the line of duty.
Retired Lt. Randy Sutton, founder of Wounded Blue, Said To Jan Jeffcoat of the National Desk:
The reality is the dehumanization of law enforcement that has occurred in recent years, the defunding and demonization of law enforcement by political elites, and the “activists” who have pushed policies that do not support law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies are being demonized by the media. In a meaningful way.
“What this means is that law enforcement officers are afraid to protect themselves.”
Sutton’s Las Vegas location organization the work Support injured officers and their families by fighting for workers’ compensation, providing health assistance, and advocating for stronger laws.
“79,000 law enforcement officers will be physically assaulted in 2023, a sharp increase from the previous year,” Sutton told the outlet. “Many of these attacks end up resulting in disability or serious injury, which can have a dramatic impact on lives.” [and] Regarding the mental and physical health of these law enforcement officers. ”
