National Fraternal Order of Police: Legislative Analysis of the "Protect and Serve Act" and Data Report on Attacks Against Law Enforcement Officers

Key Chapter Title List

1. Facts and Data
2. 2015 Department of Justice Report: "Ambushes of Police"
3. 2017 FBI Report: "Assailant Study: Mindset and Behavior"
4. 2017 Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Study: "Making it Safer"
5. 2018 FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division Report: "Ambush and Unprovoked Attacks: Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement"
6. 2022 to 2025 Data on Officer-Involved Shootings and Ambush Incidents
7. Analysis: Section-by-Section Interpretation
8. Section 1: Short Title of the Act
9. Section 2: Crimes Against Law Enforcement Officers

Document Introduction

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the legislative background, core provisions, and policy implications of the U.S. "Protect and Serve Act." The research focuses on the increasingly severe issue of deliberate violence and ambush attacks targeting law enforcement officers. The report aims to provide law enforcement policymakers, criminal justice researchers, and national security analysts with an objective assessment based on a decade of authoritative data, revealing the evolution of violent trends and their impact on the law enforcement ecosystem and the necessity for federal legislative intervention.

The report first systematically reviews several key research studies published between 2015 and 2018 by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and their subordinate agencies. These studies collectively point to a disturbing trend: while the total number of law enforcement line-of-duty deaths may fluctuate, the proportion of fatal attacks resulting from ambushes and deliberate targeting has risen significantly. The studies further analyze assailants' motivations, noting that some stem from a singular narrative portraying law enforcement officers as "the guilty." Additionally, the report cites data indicating that a significant number of officers ambushed were not engaged in specific tasks or in a state of high alert at the time, highlighting the suddenness and high risk of such attacks.

Regarding data tracking, this report provides detailed annual statistics from 2022 to 2025 (as of December 31st). The data shows that the number of law enforcement officers shot while on duty remains high, with ambush-style attacks accounting for a considerable proportion of casualties. For example, in 2023, a record 378 officers were shot, with 44% of line-of-duty deaths resulting from ambushes; data from 2024 and 2025 continues to confirm the severity and persistence of ambush attacks. This hard data provides the most direct real-world justification for the necessity of legislation.

The core analytical section of the report focuses on the specific text of the "Protect and Serve Act." The Act aims to create a new federal crime to punish "intentional" assaults on law enforcement officers and imposes severe penalties ranging from ten years to life imprisonment for murdering or attempting to murder officers. The report specifically interprets the key procedural clause in Section 2 of the Act that triggers federal jurisdiction, which requires certification by the U.S. Attorney General. This certification must be based on a request from a state government and a determination that federal prosecution serves the "public interest" and is "necessary to secure substantial justice." Factors for consideration during certification include the outcome of state-level proceedings, the degree of criminal premeditation, criminal intent, the degree of disregard for life, and the public safety benefits of federal prosecution.

In summary, by integrating multi-source official data and legal text analysis, this report constructs a complete analytical framework from phenomenon description to policy response. It not only presents a quantified picture of violent attacks against law enforcement officers but also provides an in-depth interpretation of the design logic and application thresholds of the federal legislative tool intended to address such threats. It serves as a professional reference for understanding the current U.S. law enforcement security environment and the intervention of federal criminal justice power.

Key Chapter Title List

1. Facts and Data
2. 2015 Department of Justice Report: "Ambushes of Police"
3. 2017 FBI Report: "Assailant Study: Mindset and Behavior"
4. 2017 Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Study: "Making it Safer"
5. 2018 FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division Report: "Ambush and Unprovoked Attacks: Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement"
6. 2022 to 2025 Data on Officer-Involved Shootings and Ambush Incidents
7. Analysis: Section-by-Section Interpretation
8. Section 1: Short Title of the Act
9. Section 2: Crimes Against Law Enforcement Officers

Document Introduction

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the legislative background, core provisions, and policy implications of the U.S. "Protect and Serve Act." The research focuses on the increasingly severe issue of deliberate violence and ambush attacks targeting law enforcement officers. The report aims to provide law enforcement policymakers, criminal justice researchers, and national security analysts with an objective assessment based on a decade of authoritative data, revealing the evolution of violent trends and their impact on the law enforcement ecosystem and the necessity for federal legislative intervention.

The report first systematically reviews several key research studies published between 2015 and 2018 by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and their subordinate agencies. These studies collectively point to a disturbing trend: while the total number of law enforcement line-of-duty deaths may fluctuate, the proportion of fatal attacks resulting from ambushes and deliberate targeting has risen significantly. The studies further analyze assailants' motivations, noting that some stem from a singular narrative portraying law enforcement officers as "the guilty." Additionally, the report cites data indicating that a significant number of officers ambushed were not engaged in specific tasks or in a state of high alert at the time, highlighting the suddenness and high risk of such attacks.

Regarding data tracking, this report provides detailed annual statistics from 2022 to 2025 (as of December 31st). The data shows that the number of law enforcement officers shot while on duty remains high, with ambush-style attacks accounting for a considerable proportion of casualties. For example, in 2023, a record 378 officers were shot, with 44% of line-of-duty deaths resulting from ambushes; data from 2024 and 2025 continues to confirm the severity and persistence of ambush attacks. This hard data provides the most direct real-world justification for the necessity of legislation.

The core analytical section of the report focuses on the specific text of the "Protect and Serve Act." The Act aims to create a new federal crime to punish "intentional" assaults on law enforcement officers and imposes severe penalties ranging from ten years to life imprisonment for murdering or attempting to murder officers. The report specifically interprets the key procedural clause in Section 2 of the Act that triggers federal jurisdiction, which requires certification by the U.S. Attorney General. This certification must be based on a request from a state government and a determination that federal prosecution serves the "public interest" and is "necessary to secure substantial justice." Factors for consideration during certification include the outcome of state-level proceedings, the degree of criminal premeditation, criminal intent, the degree of disregard for life, and the public safety benefits of federal prosecution.

In summary, by integrating multi-source official data and legal text analysis, this report constructs a complete analytical framework from phenomenon description to policy response. It not only presents a quantified picture of violent attacks against law enforcement officers but also provides an in-depth interpretation of the design logic and application thresholds of the federal legislative tool intended to address such threats. It serves as a professional reference for understanding the current U.S. law enforcement security environment and the intervention of federal criminal justice power.