“Wearing the badge shouldn’t make you a target,” said FBI Director, Christopher Wray, In an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes this week.
With a total of 73 police officer deaths last year, and a rate of almost one murder every five days,
FBI Director Christopher Wray said that violence directed toward police officers is a phenomenon that “doesn’t get enough attention.”
With plenty of police-related articles in the news these days, it is clear that the US is witnessing an alarming rise in violence against police. It is reported that there was an 59% rise in police officer murders in 2021, making it one of the most dangerous years for law enforcement officials to date.
Wray said that much of the violence against police can be attributed to the increase in violent crime in general. Gun related injuries have surpassed automobile crashes in the US. There were over 45,000 gun-related deaths – suicide, homicide, and accidental – in the US in 2020.
The police have reported a rise in juvenile crime and gun trafficking. The two-year pandemic “didn’t help.” Wray said that it appears that a large number of police officers were targeted or ambushed while on patrol.
Texas, Illinois, California, Georgia and Florida were recorded to have the highest numbers of officers shot.
According to the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President, Patrick Yoes, “We are in the midst of a real crisis. The violence directed at law enforcement officers is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 36 years of law enforcement.” He added that the FOP had recorded 103 “ambush-style attacks” on officers in 2021, with 130 officers shot and 30 killed.
FOP data shows that 17 officers have been killed so far in 2022.
A look at the
Officers Down Memorial Page provides a sobering insight into the lives of the officers who have given their lives to protect us. Sadly, a majority of recent deaths of law enforcement personnel are due to COVID-19, but many have also lost their lives due to automobile accidents, gunfire and vehicular assault or pursuit.
