Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, testified today at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled, “When Badges Become Targets: How Anti-Law Enforcement Rhetoric Fuels Violence Against Officers.”
It was the first Congressional hearing since 2018 to address the issue of how hateful rhetoric and vitriol aimed at law enforcement can lead to targeted attacks on law enforcement officers. President Yoes extended his sincerest gratitude to Representative Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, who presided over the hearing—his first since becoming chairman.
As part of his opening testimony, President Yoes stated, “We have clearly documented a terrifying increase in violence targeted at police. Yet Congress is taking no action to address this epidemic when it could be considering H.R. 1551, the ‘Protect and Serve Act.’”
The bill, which would impose Federal penalties on individuals, in very specific circumstances, who deliberately target law enforcement officers with violence, has been stalled in the Committee on the Judiciary since its introduction.
“The erosion of respect for law enforcement coupled with public figures spewing anti-police rhetoric—rhetoric that is amplified by social media platforms—has fueled greater aggression towards police officers than what has been seen in previous years— undoubtedly emboldening people to turn verbal assaults into brazen acts of violence against law enforcement,” said Yoes.
The FOP has been tracking the rise of targeted attacks against law enforcement officers for nearly a decade. As of 30 November 2025, 314 officers have been shot in the line of duty so far this year, and 43 killed. There have been 62 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers, which have resulted in 83 officers shot, 21 of whom were killed.
President Yoes concluded, “When a member of the public calls for help, we answer that call. Now is the time for our elected officials at every level of government to answer our call and support law enforcement by addressing the surge of targeted violence against police officers. We urge Congress to stand with our law enforcement officers by taking up and passing the “‘Protect and Serve Act.’”