‘Violence Against Law Enforcement’ Is ‘One of the Biggest Phenomena’ in US, Wray Says
FBI Director Christopher Wray is sharing that in 2021, law enforcement officers were “being killed at a rate of almost one every five days,” and how violence against officers “doesn’t get enough attention.” “60 Minutes”…
FBI Director Christopher Wray is sharing that in 2021, Law Enforcement officers were “being killed at a rate of almost one every five days,” and how violence against officers “doesn’t get enough attention.”
“60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley noted the 59% increase in murders of police officers in 2021.
“Violence against Law Enforcement in this country is one of the biggest phenomena that I think doesn’t get enough attention,” Wray said during the interview, which aired Sunday evening.
Talking about why this is happening, Wray explained, “Some of it is tied to the violent crime problem as a whole. But one of the phenomena that we saw in the last year is that an alarming percentage of the 73 Law Enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year were killed through things like being ambushed or shot while out on patrol. … Wearing the badge shouldn’t make you a target.”
Watch the interview below:
The year 2020 saw a 29% jump in murder in the U.S., which amounts to roughly 5,000 additional people killed compared to the year prior, as Pelley noted.
Wray explained that the coronavirus pandemic “certainly didn’t help.” Additionally, he said juveniles committing violent crimes, interstate gun trafficking, and “an alarming frequency of some of the worst of the worst getting back out on the streets” also contributed.