Badge of Honor (eBook)

Chapter 1

Assault on Law Enforcement

Law enforcement plays a pivotal role in upholding the foundation of any civilized society. By ensuring adherence to the rule of law, protecting democratic values, and safeguarding citizens and their properties from potential harm, officers maintain a delicate balance. However, the modern era has seen law enforcement face unprecedented challenges from criminals and changes within the criminal justice system.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ (FBI) Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) report from 2019, 17,188 police officers suffered injuries due to assaults while performing their duties. A combination of factors contributes to this rising tide of violence against officers. Urban settings, particularly in major cities, have seen an uptick in clashes stemming from protests, illegal immigration-related issues, and gang violence.

The social and political landscape has been notably affected by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the activities of various extremist factions. While these groups raise pertinent issues about police reform and racial injustice, the conversation has, at times, veered towards a narrative that portrays law enforcement officers in a predominantly negative light. This chapter delves into the influence these groups may have in cultivating an environment that seems to condone, or even encourage, the assaults and senseless killings of officers in their line of duty.

It is essential to keep in mind that although a few officers may act inappropriately, generalizing the entire police force based on those improper actions is not accurate or fair. The actions of a minority should not dictate the reputation of the majority, who diligently serve their communities. Law enforcement agencies can be instrumental in bridging divides, fostering community trust, and collaboratively working towards a more inclusive society. However, the political and societal milieu must be conducive for these potential outcomes to materialize.

Police officers require comprehensive training, resources, and the support of their communities and political leaders to effect positive change. It is time to shift the conversation from assigning blame to understanding and collaboration. By supporting law enforcement and ensuring they have the resources and training to adapt to modern challenges, society can pave the way for a more harmonious future. Only by working together can communities and the police transcend the current adversities and achieve their shared objectives.

Attacks on Law Enforcement

The US has experienced a surge of public attention surrounding incidents of alleged police violence. One notable incident that catalyzed this wave of scrutiny was the case involving the tragic shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. This event brought the issue of police conduct into focus. The aftermath of his fatal encounter with law enforcement sparked outrage and triggered widespread protests. Following these widespread demonstrations, a disturbing pattern of violence targeted toward officers followed. The direct consequence was a shocking escalation in physical assaults on officers, a trend underscored by chilling statistics. The FBI and (LEOKA) in 2015 noted a staggering increase of nearly 100 percent in the number of officers fatally injured due to assaults while on duty.

The LEOKA report is an invaluable resource that annually compiles data on law enforcement officers killed or assaulted during their service. The inception of LEOKA in 1996 was driven by the FBI’s intent to equip law enforcement agencies with insights into the nature and extent of the risks their officers face. This empirical evidence assists in investigating potential danger zones and devising preventive strategies. The importance of LEOKA’s function becomes even more pronounced against the rising hostility toward the police. The analysis reveals an alarming trend: a marked escalation in violent incidents targeting law enforcement personnel.

To fully understand the complexity and depth of the current sentiment against the police, it is pivotal to revisit past events. The 1991 Rodney King incident in Los Angeles is a significant precursor. The graphic recording of LAPD officers brutally assaulting King, an African American individual, propelled the city into turmoil. The ensuing riots underscored the deep-rooted issues of police conduct and racial tension.

However, the reactions were not confined to Ferguson; demonstrations rapidly expanded to various cities. Emotions ran high when, later that year, a grand jury decided against indicting the officer involved in Brown’s demise. In a parallel case in New York, another grand jury refrained from indicting officers associated with Eric Garner’s unfortunate death. These events became a turning point, leading to many comparable incidents nationwide in the following years.

The continual media coverage of these events has further fanned the flames, making police-civilian interactions a regular headline. The repeated exposure to such distressing narratives has transformed the discourse surrounding law enforcement, emphasizing the critical nature of police accountability and the urgent need for reforms. The evolving dynamics between the public and law enforcement is a systemic issue requiring in-depth examination. Balancing the need for law enforcement while ensuring just and fair treatment for all is a current societal challenge.

The narrative surrounding police violence and its repercussions on communities, often amplified by media coverage, tends to focus mainly on the victims and the resultant demonstrations. However, an equally critical but less frequently discussed aspect is the retaliatory violence against police officers, seemingly influenced by such media portrayals.

Following high-profile police shootings, significant instances of retaliatory violence against law enforcement have occurred. For example, on July 5, 2016, Alton Sterling met a tragic end in Baton Rouge; similarly, Philando Castile was fatally shot in St. Paul a day later. These incidents ignited demonstrations, notably in Baltimore, New York, and other cities. As these protests occasionally intensified into violent clashes, media outlets provided extensive coverage, reflecting the rising tensions (Schouten & Brennan, 2016).

However, in the aftermath of these incidents and amidst the media frenzy, a chilling series of coordinated attacks targeting law enforcement transpired. Only two days after the shootings mentioned above, Dallas, Texas, was the backdrop for an orchestrated assault on police officers. This attack tragically claimed five officers’ lives and injured nine others. A similarly chilling event occurred in Baton Rouge shortly after, where another calculated assault resulted in three officers losing their lives, with three more severely wounded.

In both instances, the assailants were African American military veterans. A closer examination of their motives revealed profound anger and resentment stemming from the police shootings involving African American individuals. These feelings, exacerbated by the prevailing atmosphere and possibly the media coverage, drove these individuals towards acts of vengeance against law enforcement. Such retaliatory violence underscores the need for balanced narratives and discussions that promote understanding and cohesion rather than division.

The recent wave of attacks on police officers, coupled with the media’s intense focus on reports of police brutality, has fostered a prevalent perception that officers are targeted due to their perceived corruption and aggression. The incidents in Dallas and Baton Rouge are particularly illustrative of this. The timing between the media reports and the subsequent violent episodes in these cities makes it hard to dismiss a potential connection. Further fueling this narrative are the assailants’ accounts of their motives, which appear to be directly influenced by these reports. Moreover, data from Rasmussen’s reinforces this sentiment. According to Rasmussen’s research in 2015, 58 percent of the US populace believed law enforcement was confronting systematic violent resistance. Many went as far as labeling this confrontation a “war” against police. Such statistics underscore the depth of the public’s concerns, and the challenges police departments face in maintaining trust amidst such perceptions.

Recently, a noticeable surge in sentiments opposing law enforcement has emerged, significantly influencing public discourse. Movements such as BLM and Defund the Police have become prominent, advocating for a significant overhaul of law enforcement, if not a complete disbandment. These movements often pinpoint systemic corruption and violence as core issues within the policing system. However, a later chapter of this book counters these claims, positing that such arguments are rooted in flawed logic and are empirically unsupported.

Nonetheless, the influence of these movements, combined with their compelling rhetoric, profoundly impacts the operational environment of police officers. As the US sees a rise in extremist views, the chances of finding a middle ground or any room for compromise dwindle. Various factions, spanning the breadth of the political spectrum, increasingly gravitate towards radical solutions...