Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, was outraged at reports of officers—nine total in the last 48 hours—who were shot recently and called on Congress to take action to prevent violence targeting law enforcement by passing the “Protect and Serve Act.”
“So far this year, 24 officers have been shot in the line of duty, including seven in San Antonio yesterday. Also this week, an officer in Raleigh was shot and remains in critical condition, and an officer in Ohio was ambushed,” Yoes said. “So far this year, four officers have been ambushed and one was killed, and it’s only January 23rd.”
The passage of the “Protect and Serve Act” is a top legislative priority of the FOP. The House overwhelmingly passed this legislation in 2018. The bill creates a new Federal offense for anyone who “knowingly assaults a law enforcement officer.” In 2024, 342 officers were shot in the line of duty, 50 of whom were killed. There were 61 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement in which 79 officers were shot, and 18 of whom were killed.
“The FOP has been documenting the increased number of attacks against law enforcement since 2015,” Yoes said. “When is Congress going to act to protect law enforcement officers? Enough is enough! Congress needs to pass the “Protect and Serve Act” to better protect our men and women in law enforcement.”
The bill has been re-introduced as S. 167 in the Senate. The FOP is working with its key supporters in the House to re-introduce the legislation in the 119th Congress.