After years and years of Democratic politicians, activists and media personalities treating police officers like the villains in every national controversy, the FBI now says assaults on law enforcement officers have reached a 10-year high.
According to the FBI’s latest Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report [1], agencies reported more than 90,000 assaults against officers in 2025 (13.8 assaults per 100 officers) – the highest assault rate recorded in the past decade. Fifty-three officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty.
For years, Americans have watched the steady drumbeat of anti-police rhetoric coming from left-wing activists, media commentators and Democrat politicians eager to score points by painting cops as the enemy.
“Defund the police” became a movement. Violent rioters were rebranded as “mostly peaceful protesters.” Meanwhile, officers trying to keep order were demonized on cable news and social media 24/7.
Turns out constantly undermining respect for law enforcement comes with a price. Most officers aren’t the caricatures pushed online. They’re the people showing up to domestic violence calls, traffic accidents, overdoses and shootings while politicians hold press conferences and activists collect hashtags.
But after years of anti-cop messaging, fewer people seem willing to treat the badge with basic respect – and the FBI numbers are reflecting it loud and clear.