GREENFIELD — Local law enforcement officials spend countless hours in training, which includes preparing for worst-case scenarios, and they must be aware every time they suit up for a shift of the dangers they face. Still, all the training in the world is not stopping an increase in law enforcement officials being targets of violence.
Officials with the National Fraternal Order of Police released new statistics on the dangers of their profession nationwide. The report shows that halfway through the year some 226 officers were shot in the line of duty with 31 killed as of July 31. The report indicates numbers are on pace for a 22% increase from 2021 statistics where the full year total showed 346 officers were shot and 64 officers were killed.
A further look at the number revealed there have been 69 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers this year. The ambush-style attacks have resulted in 81 officers shot, 14 of whom were killed by gunfire. The number of ambush-style attacks listed does not include the countless incidents where an officer was shot at but not struck by gunfire during an ambush-style attack.
National FOP President Patrick Yoes stated 2023 is shaping up to be one of the most dangerous years for police officers in recent history.
“The danger law enforcement officers across the country face each day is growing due to the increase of violence directed towards them as well as the nationwide crime crisis, which has seen criminals emboldened by the failed policies of pandering prosecutors and cynical politicians,” Yoes said. “Frankly, it is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 36 years of law enforcement.”
Locally, Greenfield Police Department (GPD) Chief Brian Hartman said it’s disheartening to look at the national statistics and see shooting numbers on the rise. But he said it is not surprising in today’s society where even juveniles seem to fire at will.
“I say this as repeat offenders are out on bail or are just getting a slap on the wrist,” Hartman said. “We are not holding individuals accountable for their actions.”
Hartman noted one of the biggest issues involving shootings with law enforcement is due to a lack of respect for authority, and he’s not just talking about law enforcement.
“The authority starts at home, and then leads into schools,” Hartman said. “If individuals are not held accountable with consequences at these stages, how do we expect them to not attack law enforcement?”
Hartman said he and his officers do realize the Greenfield community — a place they work, serve, and live in — is a community where, for the most part, law enforcement is strongly supported and respected.
“We are thankful for that,” Hartman said. “Our officers are reminded through training and casual conversation to stay vigilant and never treat any call as routine.”
Officials with the GPD continuously train on officer safety, through news articles, conversations or scenario-based training.
“Yes, officers know the risk they were taking when they raised their right hand and swore an oath to serve and protect,” Hartman said. “However, they didn’t sign up to be a target or engaged in a war just because they wear a uniform.”
Hartman noted it’s becoming more and more difficult to find and hire qualified candidates, and if something doesn’t change, it will only be more difficult in the future.
“We are always talking about how to recruit and retain officers for this profession,” Hartman said. “Question is who is willing to stand up and join a profession where they can be attacked and assaulted just because of the profession they chose and not have legislatures back them for the salary they are being paid?”
A total of 331 officers were shot in 2022 with 64 law enforcement officials dying. Some 126 of those shootings were recorded as ambushes.
“The numbers don’t lie,” GPD Deputy Chief Charles McMichael said. “Attacks on our nation’s protectors have been rising.”
For McMichael, who studies crime reports, he said the release of the latest statistics on officer shootings isn’t surprising when looking at the numbers for U.S. crime and homicides the past few years.
“Those numbers continue to increase at alarming rates,” he said. “There is a portion of our society that no longer cares about other people.”
As an example, McMichael noted they’re seeing an increase in the amount of road rage incidents.
“People are so quick to honk their horns, yell and scream and pull guns on people just for the way they drive,” McMichael said.
He noted, as a free society, laws are based on voluntary compliance with the understanding that if a person is caught violating the law, they will face consequences.
“The consequences are no longer a deterrent for some people,” McMichael said. “They don’t care if they get arrested because they know they will be out of jail quickly and back to doing whatever they want.”
Like Hartman, McMichael said it all starts in the home with parents and guardians teaching kids to respect the laws of the land and the officers who enforce them.
“Children have to be taught right and wrong and face punishment when they do wrong,” he said. “As a society, we have largely taken punishment out of our schools. Teachers are scared to interfere and break up fights at school because they are afraid to get fired or arrested.”
McMichael said local law enforcement is grateful for the support they have in Greenfield and Hancock County.
“But we don’t sit on that,” McMichael said. “We remind our officers of the dangers all the time and train continuously to keep them ready for the evil that exists in our society.”
