Staff Reports
In a startling new report, it has been revealed that the number of valiant police officers being shot while on duty has skyrocketed to an all-time high in 2023. The report, released by the National Fraternal Order of Police, a distinguished group representing nearly 400,000 police officers, highlights the alarming statistic that 378 officers were shot in the line of duty this year, marking a jaw-dropping 14% increase from the previous year.
Cops shot on the job in 2023 hit new high, report sayshttps://t.co/Pauv4aZPwm
— The Center Square (@thecentersquare) January 4, 2024
Even more heart-wrenching is the fact that 46 of these courageous officers tragically lost their lives due to their injuries. The report includes a striking graphic that vividly displays the disturbing rise in these senseless attacks over recent years, as well as a breakdown by state of where these despicable acts occurred.
To add insult to injury, the report also details that 115 “ambush-style” attacks were carried out on officers in 2023, resulting in the untimely deaths of 20 of our brave defenders. It’s truly sickening how these defenders of justice are being targeted in such calculated and heinous ways.
Patrick Yoes, the National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, did not mince words when condemning the reckless “Defund the Police” movement as an instigator of this surge in shootings. He rightfully pointed out that this dangerous movement gained traction following the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the destructive Black Lives Matter riots that ravaged our country.
Yoes passionately advocated for Congress to pass the Protect and Serve Act, which would impose federal criminal penalties for those who target law enforcement officers. He rightly labeled the violence against our steadfast protectors as not just unacceptable, but as a deep blemish on our society that must be eradicated.
The time has come for our elected officials and community leaders to stand up, support our heroic officers, and unequivocally denounce the violence targeting law enforcement. It’s crucial that we make it abundantly clear that these courageous men and women who risk their lives each day to keep us safe are not expendable, but rather, invaluable members of our community who deserve our unwavering support and respect.
