According to a recent report by the National Fraternal Order of Police, the number of officers who were shot in the line of duty reached a record high level in 2023.
In 2023, the national police group with more than 373,000 officers reported 378 officers shot in the course of duty, an increase of 14% compared to the 330 shots in 2022.
The FOP reported that 46 of the 378 officers who were shot died. There were also 115 attacks that took place in the form of ambushes against law enforcement officers throughout the year.
The report showed a 60% rise in the number of officers killed since 2018.
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According to the FOP, 378 officers have been shot in 2023. Of those, 46 have been killed. (Andy Alfaro/The Modesto Bee, via AP).
FOP President Patrick Yoes stated that the organization hoped to reach a “high water mark” in 2022.
Last year, more than 330 police officers died in the line-of-duty. The COVID-19 Pandemic is behind us, and many Americans have witnessed the tragic results of defunding the police movement. We hoped that these numbers were a high water mark. “We were wrong.”
Yoes attributes the lower death toll, despite the high number of officers who were shot.
“Thanks to dramatic improvements in medical trauma and anti-ballistic technologies, the lethality has been reduced, and only 46 officers who were shot in the course of duty have died,” Yoes stated.
“Many people will look at these data and only see numbers. But we must always remember that these are heroes — fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. The level of violence perpetrated against our officers is shocking and unconscionable. No wonder our profession faces a crisis in recruitment and retention. What parent would want to send their child into the field of law enforcement knowing what dangers they are exposed to every day? ”
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According to the FOP report, there has been an increase of 60% in the number of officers killed since 2018.
Yoes has advocated that Congress pass the Protect and Serve Act which creates federal criminal sanctions for those who target officers of law enforcement.
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He said: “Truly, the violence towards those who have sworn to serve and protect is unacceptable. It’s a stain in our society and must stop.” It is the duty of our elected officials and leaders in our communities to speak out, stand up for our heroes and condemn violence against law officers.