Alarming surge in attacks on police officers sparks calls for action

In a recent news release, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) reported that the year 2023 marked the highest number of officers shot in the line of duty since they began collecting this data in 2018. Ambush-style attacks accounted for over one-third of the shootings and also tended to be more lethal. 

According to the FOP data, there were 378 officers who were shot in the line of duty in 2023, marking a 14% increase compared to 2022. Of these 378 officers, 46 were killed, making the fatality rate about 12.2%. Despite the high number of officers shot, the number of fatalities is actually somewhat lower than previous years. For example, in 2022, there were 62 deaths despite fewer shootings, with a fatality rate of about 18.7%. In a press release, FOP President Patrick Yoes attributed the decreased lethality to “dramatic improvements in medical trauma science and anti-ballistic technology.” 

Data retrieved from the Fraternal Order of Police: https://national.fop.net/reportshotkilled112024

Out of the 378 shootings in 2023, 138 (36.5%) of these were ambush-style attacks, or attacks where an officer is struck without any warning or opportunity to defend themselves. Of the 138 ambushes, about 14.5% resulted in a death, accounting for 20 of the 46 total fatalities. In contrast, the other 240 shootings had a fatality rate of 10.8%. This is consistent with 2022 data as well, wherein 25.4% of officers who were ambushed died from their injuries, compared to 14.6% who were shot in other circumstances.

These types of attacks are particularly disturbing due to how depraved and premeditated they are. According to prior research by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office, officers who are ambushed are often simply sitting in their patrol vehicles. While some are ambushed during calls for service, more than half (56%) are simply eating, sitting on post, or even targeted while on their way home from a shift.

In Yoes’ statement, he urged people to recognize that these numbers represent individuals who are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. He also emphasized how violence against police likely contributes to the current recruitment and retention crisis. In response to these alarming figures, he called on voters to voice their concerns to elected officials and “speak out against the violence against law enforcement officers,” specifically endorsing the Protect and Serve Act. This proposed legislation, introduced to Congress in February 2023, aims to create a new criminal offense for knowingly assaulting a law enforcement officer and causing serious bodily injury under circumstances affecting interstate commerce. Although the bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, it has yet to progress beyond that stage.