Law enforcement personnel face one of the most perilous occupations in the United States, constantly risking their lives to safeguard local communities. Regrettably, recent statistics reveal an unprecedented surge in the number of officers who were shot last year.
On January 1st, the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) published a report detailing the count of law enforcement officers shot and fatally injured while on duty in 2023. The data indicates that 378 officers were shot in the line of duty last year, marking a 14% rise from the previous year’s figure of 330 police officers shot in 2022.
In 2023, there were additionally 115 incidents characterized as ambush-style attacks on police officers. This type of attack is classified as an assault where an officer is struck by gunfire without prior warning or a chance to defend themselves. These ambushes led to 138 officers being shot, resulting in the unfortunate loss of 20 lives.
In September, a tragic incident unfolded in Los Angeles, where LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, aged 30, was fatally shot while stationary at a traffic light in a clearly marked patrol car.
The report contained some positive aspects. Although 46 police officers lost their lives in 2023, this marked a decline from the 62 fatalities in 2022 and the 64 in 2021. Notably, it represents the lowest number of officers killed in the past six years.
However, the unprecedented surge in shootings has raised concerns within the FOP. President Patrick Yoes informed Fox News Digital that the organization had anticipated 2022 to serve as a “high-water mark,” but, as he stated, they “were wrong.” Yoes further explained that advancements in medical trauma science and anti-ballistic technology played a significant role in reducing the number of police officers killed in the line of duty.
Yoes aimed to emphasize that behind the statistics are genuine heroes with families – individuals who are parents and children themselves.
Moreover, he conveyed to the reporter that the challenge with recruitment didn’t come as a surprise, especially in the context of the heightened incidents of officers being shot.
