FBI to Congress: Protect our police so they can do their job

The Director of the FBI told Congress today that working in the field of law enforcement has hit new peaks of danger than almost ever before.

Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, FBI Director Christopher Wray told members that working as a law enforcement officer has become more deadly than almost ever before, as violent crime continues to skyrockets across the nation.

“This year's deaths are nearly keeping pace with last year,” the Director told the Committee during a hearing titled, ‘Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.’

"This June, more officers were murdered in this country than in any single month in the past four years," Wray said.

The Director added that 73 police officers were killed while on duty last year, a number that exceeds more than any year since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Nebraska expressed deep concerns about the escalating crime against law enforcement officials.

“As we all see, violence is a major problem in America today, with rates of violent crime skyrocketing across the country,” Grassley said. “The start of this violent crime wave began in 2020 as police nationwide were pulled off the streets. Some of the main causes of this rise in violent crime are anti-police rhetoric and de-policing efforts, progressive prosecution and bail reform.”

He then added that he believed part of the problem stems from progressive prosecution.

“This crisis in policing is happening at the same time that progressive prosecutors refuse to hold violent criminals accountable for their crimes. Witness after witness in this committee has told us the bail reform movement helps to release violent criminals who are arrested so they can go commit more crimes. Congress must treat violent crime as a top priority.”

Sen. Richard Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois expressed similar concerns about dangers police face, but focused more on threats toward law enforcement about the 2020 election instead of progressive prosecution.

“Over the past two years, our nation’s public servants have faced a wave of violence and violent threats,” the Illinois Democrat said. “Just yesterday the Committee heard from election officials who received death threats because of their work during the 2020 election… And we’ve seen unacceptable—and in some cases deadly—violence toward law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect us.”

Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee that violent crime is the number one concern he hears about from police chiefs.