Check Out the Recent Publication Released by the COPS Office on Firearms Assaults against Law Enforcement Officers

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), released the publication Understanding Firearms Assaults against Law Enforcement Officers in the United States. The publication was originally prepared as a framework for discussion for the National Officer Safety and Wellness (OSW) Group, created at the urging of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. The publication reviews the group's findings on law enforcement policies, procedures, training, and agency characteristics that can reduce officer deaths and injuries.

The purpose of the publication is to inform the field and enhance the safety of the men and women who serve in law enforcement. It is divided into three sections: a summary of the OSW Group discussion, a literature review, and current study findings. It is hypothesized that the risks to officer safety are neither uniform across the country nor static. Instead, officers from particular agencies or jurisdictions are at a higher risk than officers from other agencies of becoming victims of firearms-related violence.

To access the COPS Office publication, please click here.