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National Fraternal Order of Police: Number of officers shot in the line of duty has hit an all-time high

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WASHINGTON, D.C.- A startling statistic was shared online on December 1st, alleging that 2020 is proving to be a dangerous year when it comes to being a police officer in America.

According to an Instagram post from the National Fraternal Order of Police, 283 police officers were reportedly shot this year – with 44 officers having been killed via gunfire between January 1st and November 30th. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Fraternal Order of Police FOP (@fopnational)

The National FOP post further claims that the number of officers shot in 2020 is up 7% from 2019, and up a startling 29% from 2018. 

While it’s unclear whether the number reported by the National FOP regarding non-fatal police shootings is completely accurate (the FBI’s LEOKA 2020 report has yet to release the national officer assault data), the number of fatal police shootings is verifiably accurate. 

The LEOKA 2020 report detailing the fatalities of police showed that 44 of the officer’s killed in 2020 were felonious in nature, but also fatal accidents on the job have increased as well. 

Data from 2019 relating to accidental deaths of police officers while on the job were 37 as of December 7th, 2019. As of the same date in 2020, that number has risen to 45 accidental deaths. 

Of the 45 accidental deaths of police officers this year, reportedly 25 of those deaths were the result of motor vehicle accidents. 

Overall, it’s been a dangerous year for police officers when considering both the intentional acts of harm directed toward them and the increase in incidents causing accidental deaths. 

And, there’s more to the equation of dangers on the job in 2020 than just the threat of suspects armed with guns or accidentally being killed by a passing motorist or being involved in a fatal crash. 

The summer of protests looked like something right out of the 1992 riots in Los Angeles that transpired between late April and early May of that year. Except, the riots and protests of 2020 affected numerous cities across the country. 

According to a study performed by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, between May 25th and July 31st, over 2,000 police officers were injured during various riots across the nation. 

That data was only compiled within the first two months of the hectic summer, as cities like Seattle and Portland saw protests and riots (resulting in officers injured) stretching far beyond July 31st. 

As for accountability of suspects arrested during that ten-week period studied by the MCCA, that’s not exactly an inspiring statistic for those officers on the front lines having to face the bad actors. 

There were over 16,200 suspects arrested for crimes linked to the protests and riots across the country between May 25th and July 31st, but over half of law enforcement agencies reported that their respective DA’s refused to prosecute arrestees for crimes committed under the guise of protesting. 

The report from the MCCA also noted that even when video evidence was obtained for certain crimes, DA’s in their jurisdiction were, at times, not touching the cases: 

“In some instances, prosecutors refused to charge those arrested for felony crimes committed during the protests despite the availability of video evidence and suspect confessions.”

Not to mention, the gaslighting by bad actors in areas like Portland, where violent riots were most pervasive in 2020, resulting in the Department of Homeland Security having to release a report in August debunking the swirling myths surrounding the violent riots. 

Overall, 2020 has been perhaps one of the toughest years to adorn the badge, between the slander, broad brushing, violence, and mortality rates.

One can only hope that this year was an anomaly, and that a sense of normalcy will return to the profession come 2021. 

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In one recent instance regarding law enforcement officers coming under fire unprovoked, an officer in St. Louis had merely just responded to a disturbance call without even having confronted a suspect yet, and was shot in the neck.

Here’s that reported from December 3rd. 

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SAINT LOUIS, MO – A St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department was reportedly shot in the neck twenty minutes after midnight on December 3rd nearby the city’s downtown area. 

According to Chief John Hayden from the department, the shooting incident took place along the 1600 block of North Broadway, which runs south of the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Officers at the time were responding to what was described as a disturbance call in the area, which Chief Hayden explained is one of the most common calls officers respond to: 

“Officers come to work – just trying to do their jobs. The disturbance call is the most common call that we can get. Certainly in a disturbance call, it is unknown what will happen.” 

And that “unknown” element certainly took place, when police say officers noticed a muzzle flash emanating from the area where they’d just responded to.

When said muzzle flash went off, Chief Hayden said a 32-year-old officer who has been with the department for nearly two years was hit with “a projectile” from a suspect shotgun blast. 

From what Chief Hayden said when detailing the incident, he referred to this latest incident has being part of a larger pattern where officers are “under assault” now more than ever: 

“Our officers have been under assault. There is no other way to put it. Our officers have been trying to do their jobs on several instances this summer, and this is the 10th officer to be struck by gunfire. And it’s really disturbing that officer’s can’t do their job without coming under gunfire.”

“I’ve been with the department for 34 years. [There] has never been a time when officers are just going on call – they haven’t confronted anybody – and the sentiment is that an officer can be shot at.”

Despite the officer having been struck in the neck by said gunfire, it was reported that the sustained injuries are non-life-threatening. The officer was reportedly transferred to the Barnes Jewish Hospital for treatment. 

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson took to Twitter to remark on the shooting, calling the incident “very disturbing”: 

“Last night, a young officer was shot while responding to a disturbance call. I am thankful he will be ok. He is the 10th [SLMPD] officer shot in the line of duty since June – all while just doing their job. Very disturbing. Thank you to all our officers!”

Police have yet to take anyone into custody regarding the shooting, nor has there been any indication yet that a person of interest has been identified. Investigators are reportedly still interviewing witnesses as of the morning of December 3rd. 

This is an ongoing investigation. 

Please follow Law Enforcement Today as we gather updates on this case as they develop. 

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About The Author

Gregory Hoyt is an I.T. Marketing and Sales professional based out in Sierra Vista, Arizona. While being a staunch and outspoken advocate of law enforcement and first responders, Gregory Hoyt also has the experience of having spent nearly 5 years in prison as well. Since then, he's used his unique perspective to offer support and commentary about the criminal justice system. When not working or combating bad ideas, Hoyt also leisurely studies economics, history, and law.

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