Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, applauded the reintroduction of S. 5214, the “Protect and Serve Act.” The bipartisan bill is the product of months of work between the FOP and staff in the offices of Thomas R. Tillis (R-NC) and Christopher A. Coons (D-DE).

“I want to thank Senators Coons and Tillis for their collaboration with us to introduce new legislation to better protect our officers from targeted attacks,” Yoes said. “We are deeply grateful for their dedication and leadership to address this critical issue of violence against law enforcement officers. I also want to thank Senators Crapo and Cortez Masto for their early support for the bill.”

The “Protect and Serve Act” would impose, in limited circumstances, Federal penalties on individuals who willfully and with the intent to kill target a local, State or Federal law enforcement officer, solely because that person is a law enforcement officer. So far this year, there have been 27 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers, which have resulted in 36 officers being shot, six of whom died.

“Our members are under fire by individuals motivated by nothing more than a desire to kill or injure a cop. Law enforcement officers, who serve their communities and put their lives on the line for fellow citizens, should not be hunted and targeted just because of the uniform that they wear,” Yoes said.

Despite a dramatic decrease in the nation’s homicide rate, firearms attacks on law enforcement officers have remained alarmingly high over the past several years, underscoring a dangerous and persistent trend of deliberate attacks against those who serve in law enforcement. Too many of these attacks are not spontaneous confrontations, but calculated assaults intended to inflict maximum harm on officers.

“When a member of the public calls for help, we answer that call. Now, we are the ones asking Congress for help,” Yoes said. “I am calling on Congress—again—to consider and pass the ‘Protect and Serve Act!’”