Ten officers killed in 100 attacks on police in 2023

Ten officers have lost their lives so far this year in the 100 attacks that have been registered against law enforcement agencies. Shootings against law enforcement agencies and officials, often in ambushes, has exceeded 1,000 in the past three years, with more than 200 police officers killed. This has prompted the National Fraternal Order of Police, to demand that lawmakers take action to pass the Protect and Serve Act, and implement changes to stiffen penalties for those who assault a member of the security forces.

Another police officer injured shortly after the complaint

The police union uploaded a tweet denouncing that, in the three months so far in 2023, there have been 99 attacks (the 100th occurred the night after publication, when a rookie was injured during an arrest). In their complaint, they detail that 32 agents have been shot in 27 ambushes against them. This data represents a 57% increase in the number of officers shot in the line of duty compared to 2020.

More than 1,000 attacks and 200 agents killed since 2020

The data shows a worrying trend over the past few years. 2021 has been the worst year to date, with 346 attacks resulting in 63 police officers being killed. Of these attacks, 103 were ambushes. In 2022 the number of assaults was slightly lower (331), but proportionally more deadly (62 law enforcement defenders killed). Organized surprise attacks totaled 89 in this period. In 2020, 313 assaults were recorded, costing the lives of 47 officers.

In January of 2023 alone, there were "more officers shot than there were days in the month," the police officers denounced in the note. 34 officers were shot and wounded during that month, three of whom died as a result of the attacks. In those 31 days "there were 8 ambush-style attacks against law enforcement officers, resulting in 9 officers wounded by gunshot, 1 of whom was killed," the communiqué states.

Attacks with the "desire to kill" a police officer

Among the causes pointed out by the officers is the increasing erosion of respect for authority and also they stressed that law enforcement officers continue to carry out their duties despite the risks. In addition, they echo FBI reports in past years that warned, as early as 2017, "a disturbing and growing trend of assailants motivated by the desire to kill a law enforcement officer." This motivation, the report concludes, stems from a "singular narrative that portrays the officer as guilty in traditional and social media and the subject as the victim."

Pass the 'Protect and Serve Act'.

They therefore called on lawmakers to pass the Protect and Serve Act, which would send "a clear message to violent criminals who deliberately attack or ambush our law enforcement officers: they will be punished to the fullest extent of the law." The bipartisan bill "would create a new federal crime for those who deliberately attack local, state or federal law enforcement officers with violence, and is a direct response to the growing number of law enforcement officers who have been targeted," the union said.