Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, applauded the introduction of S. 4605, the “Protect and Serve Act.” This legislation was introduced by Senator Thomas R. Tillis (R-NC) with the support of the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC), and 14 other original cosponsors.

“The FOP is grateful for Senator Tillis' leadership, and the support of Chairman Graham, on the introduction of the ‘Protect and Serve Act,’” said Yoes. “This legislation has long been a legislative priority for the FOP and takes on a particular urgency in the wake of the vicious ambush attack on two deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department a few days ago.”

The “Protect and Serve Act” would make it a Federal crime to violently target local, State, or Federal law enforcement officers. The House companion bill was introduced by Representatives John H. Rutherford (RFL), Val Demings (D-FL), Peter A. Stauber (R-MN) and Thomas C. O’Halleran (D-AZ), all of whom are former law enforcement officers.

“So far this year, 229 officers have been shot in the line of duty, 35 of whom died. Twenty-four law enforcement officers have been ambushed this year, seven of whom were killed,” said Yoes. “The lethality of these attacks would be much greater but for dramatic improvements in medical trauma science and antiballistic technology. Congress should act and act now to address the terrible violence aimed at our law enforcement officers—because the ambush in Los Angeles County will not be the last—by passing the ‘Protect and Serve Act.’ We look forward to working with our friends in the Senate to get this bill to the floor.”

The Fraternal Order of Police is the oldest and largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States with more than 355,000 members.