The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) released a report this week that showed 323 officers were shot in the line of duty, with 60 killed. In Tennessee, 12 officers were shot in the line of duty this year.
FOP called 2022 “one of the most dangerous years for law enforcement.”
The FOP’s report also shows that officer-related shootings are up 13 percent when compared to 2019 data. Furthermore, police officers killed by gunfire are up 23 percent from 2019’s data.
🚨ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS YEARS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT: The American Police Officer is Facing a Heightened Level of Danger
⚠️ 323 Officers Shot This Year
⚠️ 60 Officers Killed by Gunfire
⚠️ 124 Officers We’re Shot in 87 Ambush-Style Attacks
We still have 10 days left in 2022… pic.twitter.com/BThxdSNcnz
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) December 21, 2022
“Last year we saw more officers shot in the line of duty than any other since the National Fraternal Order of Police began recording this data in late 2015, and this year is not far behind,” FOP President Patrick Yoes said in a statement. “Many will often look at this data and just see numbers. We MUST remember that they represent heroes—fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters.”
With just a couple of days left until the new year, 87 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers have occurred this year, resulting in 124 officers shot, with 31 being killed, according to the report. The FOP defines an “ambush-style attack” as when an officer is struck by gunfire without any warning or opportunity to defend themselves.
🚨 The violence against our officers is beyond unacceptable; it’s a stain on our society, and it must end!
Of the 323 officers shot so far this year, 60 were killed in the line of duty; up 23% from 2019 year to date.
Read More ➡️ https://t.co/Q1GKmhsM0n pic.twitter.com/z6CpxdZJWC
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) December 21, 2022
The states that saw the most number of officers killed by gunfire were Texas (27), followed by Arizona (21) and Georgia (18).
“I call on Americans in every community across the country to join us in taking a stand—to say, ‘Enough is Enough!’ Truthfully, the violence against those sworn to serve and protect is beyond unacceptable; it’s a stain on our society, and it must end,” Yoes said. “It is incumbent upon our elected officials and community leaders to stand up, support our heroes, and speak out against the violence against law enforcement officers.”
On Fox News, Yoes also revealed that many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, blaming “revolving-door policies” set in place that “embolden” criminals and “undermine” the rule of law.
We are looking at real-life consequences of revolving-door policies, which are emboldening criminals and undermining the rule of law.@PYoes: Most violent crime is committed by a handful of repeat offenders. When we take them off the street, we impact crime. pic.twitter.com/1vYKO36t2h
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) December 22, 2022
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Police Tape” by Tony Webster. CC BY-SA 4.0.
