Ambush-Style Attacks On Police Up 91% In 2021

Washington, DC – The National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) announced Thursday that ambush attacks on law enforcement officers in the United States were up 91 percent so far in 2021.

FOP statistics showed that, as of June 30, 51 law enforcement officers had been shot in 40 ambush attacks, and 13 had died, FOX News reported.

But there were only 48 ambush-style attacks in all of 2020.

Last year, 60 law enforcement officers were shot during ambushes, and 12 were killed, according to the FOP’s annual summary of shootings.

The FOP defines an ambush as an attack that is “carried out with an element of surprise and intended to deprive officers of the ability to defend against the attack,” according to The Hill.

FOP statistics showed that as of June 30, 150 police officers had been shot in the line of duty in the United States, FOX News reported.

Twenty-eight of those heroes died, according to the FOP.

🚨Witnessing a SURGE in violence against the brave men and women of law enforcement. Ambush-Style Attacks on officers are up 91% from 2020 (YTD). So far this year:

⚠️ 150 Officers Shot

⚠️ 28 Officers Killed by Gunfire

⚠️ 51 Officers Shot in 40 Ambush-style Attacks pic.twitter.com/hP4WtyScUj

— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) July 1, 2021

The increase in ambush attacks on officers has led to a nationwide exodus from law enforcement agencies, a survey by the Police Executive Research Forum showed.

From April of 2020 to April of 2021, retirements were up 45 percent and resignations were up 18 percent, leaving an officer shortage in many police departments across the country.

The national police union organization warned there is a “surge in violence against the brave men and women of law enforcement,” FOX News reported.

The FOP’s warning came just one day after an Atlanta police officer was shot in the face in an ambush-style attack as he and another officer responded to a call about shots fired inside an apartment building.

Atlanta Police Chief of Investigations Charles Hampton said two officers arrived at the Solace on Peachtree Apartments in the 700-block of Peachtree Street at about 1 p.m. on June 30, WXIA reported.

Chief Hampton said the officers got into the elevator and headed up to the 8th floor where the shooting had reportedly occurred.

“Upon exiting the elevator, they were immediately met by gunfire,” he said. “They returned fire and one gunman was fatally shot.”

Chief Hampton said that the suspect who fired on the gunman was fatally shot, WXIA reported.

The officers quickly located a gunshot victim inside an apartment on that floor of the building, the chief said.

He told reporters the original gunshot victim was transported to the hospital in stable condition.

The wounded officer was carried out of the building by fellow officers and transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment in a police vehicle.

On Thursday, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant identified the wounded officer as Atlanta Police Officer Khuong Thai, WXIA reported.

Officer Thai was shot in the face, but he was able to talk with his family and the police chief before he went into surgery, according to Chief Bryant

The police chief said that Officer Thai joined the Atlanta Police Department in 2019, WXIA reported.

Chief Bryant said that Officer Thai remained hospitalized in “stable” condition on July 1.

Police also announced they had identified the gunman who shot Officer Thai as 29-year-old Joseph Lee Humbles, WGCL reported.

Humbles died at the hospital as a result of his wounds.