Data shows increase in law enforcement officer deaths as crime rates surge


FBI Director Christopher Wray on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:35 PM PT – Monday, June 21, 2021

New data released from the FBI reported law enforcement officer deaths have increased 39 percent in the past five months in comparison to the same time last year. The report included 39 officers who were killed since May 31.

FBI Director Christopher Wray thanked the nation’s law enforcement officers last month for their continued dedication to keep citizens safe and gave his condolences to the families who lost a loved one while on the line of duty.

“2020 was one of the deadliest years for law enforcement in our nations history and sadly 2021 is looking grim too,” he expressed. “We’ve lost beloved colleagues to line of duty deaths, from gunfire and car crashes, and our people have faced a significant new risk from COVID.”

The Officer Down Memorial Page reported 366 officers lost their lives on the line of duty last year. Many officers and law enforcement officials have contributed the rising number to the tense relationship between officers and the communities they serve as defund the police movements swept the nation. The increase came as preliminary data from the FBI showed a 25 percent increase in murders in 2020.

Republican governors across the nation have signed pieces of legislation to obstruct local governments from defunding law enforcement agencies. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Ky.) signed an antiriot bill in April to make sure law enforcement in the Sunshine State continued to have the financial backing to keep its residents safe.

“This bill actually prevents against local governments defunding law enforcement. We’ll be able to stop it at the state level,” he explained. “If you look at some of these places that have done this, they’ve already seen crime go up even just diverting some of the funding to this.”

In addition, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) and Gov. Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) have also signed bills that aim to block defund the police efforts.

MORE NEWS: Sen. Johnson: Democrat Media Suppress Information About More Than 5,000 Vaccine Deaths





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Carley Joanou
Author: Carley Joanou

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