Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, was outraged at reports of four officers being shot and killed in the past four days. He called on Congress to take further action to prevent violence targeting law enforcement by immediately passing the “Protect and Serve Act.”

“So far this year, 55 officers have been shot in the line of duty, including seven over the weekend alone in Virginia, California, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, the latter of which occurred at a hospital where hostages were taken before the suspect opened fire on officers,” Yoes said. “We cannot let this continue.”

The passage of the “Protect and Serve Act” is a top legislative priority of the FOP.  The House overwhelmingly passed this legislation in 2018. The bill creates a new Federal offense for anyone who “knowingly assaults a law enforcement officer.” There have been seven ambushes so far in 2025, which resulted in seven officers being shot. In 2024, 342 officers were shot in the line of duty, 50 of whom were killed. There were 61 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement in which 79 officers were shot, and 18 of whom were killed. 

“The FOP has been documenting the increased number of attacks against law enforcement since 2015,” Yoes said. “We last called on Congress to pass this legislation at the end of last month and we reiterate that call today with even greater urgency. Our men and women in law enforcement deserve better.”

The bill has been re-introduced as S. 167 in the Senate and currently has 4 cosponsors. The FOP is working with its key supporters in the House to re-introduce the legislation in the 119th Congress.