According to a new FBI report released on Tuesday, the rate of assaults on American law enforcement officers reached its highest point in a decade in 2023, with over 79,000 reported attacks.
The report, which analyzes data from various agencies across the country, highlights a concerning trend of violence against law enforcement personnel. Notably, the number of officers assaulted and injured by firearms is on the rise.
FBI officials revealed that there were 466 assaults involving firearms in 2023, marking the highest level in the past decade. This figure represents a significant increase from the less than 200 officers assaulted and injured by guns reported in 2014.
In terms of fatalities, 60 officers were killed as a result of criminal acts in 2023, compared to 61 the previous year and 73 in 2021. While there has been a slight decline in these numbers over the past three years, FBI officials emphasized that the total number of officer killings in this period surpasses any other three-year period in the last two decades.
The report also sheds light on the experience level of officers killed between 2014 and 2023, revealing that they had an average of 12 years of experience as sworn officers.
Additionally, the report highlights the risks faced by officers in the line of duty, with over 230 reported accidental deaths between 2019 and 2023. The majority of these deaths, accounting for 57%, resulted from vehicle crashes, while 30% were caused by officers being struck by vehicles.