By District Attorney Mike O’Dell

“Today, in the United States, more than 900,000 law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of others. They serve with valor and distinction—and with great success. That protection comes at a price, however. Each year, there are approximately 60,000 assaults on law enforcement officers, resulting in nearly 16,000 injuries. Sadly, over the last decade, an average of 146 officers a year have been killed in the line of duty—with an average of 64 officers a year intentionally killed, making the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of others from 1980 to 2014.”

Over 100 officers have been intentionally killed in the line of duty in our nation since 2013. In 2015, a total of 30 officers have lost their lives while on duty by gunfire or another form of assault. The recent rash of police officer killings is fueling a new debate over the risks of being a police officer in the “post-Ferguson” era of anti-police protests. Social media posts document a concerted effort to discredit all police officers because of the extraordinarily rare misconduct by a very few. The dangerous national rhetoric that has drawn so much media attention has gotten out of hand. It has become popular and pervasive to denigrate and “call-out” our trusted law enforcement officers, as evidenced by recent comments from Black Lives Matter protesters who chanted “Pigs in a blanket, fry ‘em like bacon,” referring to the police across this nation.

This constant condemnation and denigration is neither fair nor profitable for any of us…and it must be countered by all of us who are in a position to know better.

Police departments across this country are facing a mounting recruiting shortage amid the anti-cop mood that some fear has taken the pride out of peacekeeping and put targets on the backs of the men and women in blue. Open calls for the killing of police have been followed by assassinations of officers. And, instead of dialing back the incendiary rhetoric, protests groups have doubled down at demonstrations nationwide. I fear the net effect has been to demonize police, and diminish the job of these integral public servants. Knowing police face scorn or career-ending legal battles even if they acted properly has convinced many prospective cops to abandon their dreams of patrolling American streets.

Many of the critics second-guessing our officers in the performance of their duties have called for increased and better “use of force” training and more effective decision-making skills. They insist that building strong partnerships between law enforcement and the community should be the top priority—working together to create a deeper understanding of the role of law enforcement in a free society, thus, strengthening the bond between those who protect and those protected, building a safer future for all.

But I submit that to build such partnerships throughout our nation must include the efforts of both sides—the police and the community. Building bridges goes both ways. I believe the pressure is on the community to change an environment of hate directed toward police that seems to permeate many of our urban communities. A lack of trust toward authority seems to be “taught” in these communities which are marked by disorder, violence, and crime. The police are blamed by community leaders for what they call the “contagion of chaos” that exists in their neighborhoods, with these same leaders ignoring the most difficult issues confronting urban communities—including chronic poverty, failing schools, gang violence, lack of discipline, absence of fathers, drug abuse and high unemployment. Solving these problems must come through the efforts of the people who reside in those communities, not law enforcement.

And murdering police officers certainly will not solve, or even alleviate, these problems.

Such actions cannot be tolerated. They will not be tolerated in our community. The murder or assault of one of our officers will result in the full force of the law being administered against any perpetrator. I work with our men and women in blue on a daily basis. These are committed public servants who exhibit honor and integrity every day, dedicating their lives to preserving and protecting our communities. Their occupation is extremely dangerous and fraught with peril. They deserve our respect and admiration, not our disdain and denigration.

When a police officer is killed, it’s not an agency that loses an officer, it’s an entire nation. It is clear that “line of duty” deaths can happen to any officer—young or old, rookie or veteran. Each death marks the “end of watch” for an officer who dedicated his/her life to protecting and serving, and each death is a loss for all of us.

We extend our sincere prayers and condolences to the families, friends and agencies who have lost a hero. Our hearts break for you all. And, we continue our prayers for all the officers who continue their mission on the front line in our battle against crime and the protection of our communities.

It is time for all of us to stand up and support our law enforcement officers, and speak out against the violence and vitriol directed toward them. It is time for us to defend those who defend us. It is time to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our men and women in blue.

On behalf of a grateful community, we thank you for the ongoing sacrifices you make daily for the men, women, and children who so desperately depend on you for our safety and protection.

God bless each and every one of you.