Published During National Police Week
8 Percent Increase in Officers Shot and Killed in the Line of Duty in 2024
BRADENTON. Fla. — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan and Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells penned an op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times on the importance of passing federal legislation to increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and first responders.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. They deserve more than platitudes—they deserve action,” write Buchanan and Sheriff Wells in the op-ed. “Congress must pass the Thin Blue Line Act and send an unmistakable message to would-be cop killers that if you target a cop, you will face the harshest penalties under the law.”
Buchanan’s Thin Blue Line Act (H.R. 378) would make the murder or attempted murder of a police officer or other first responders an “aggravating” factor in death penalty determinations. In 2017, Buchanan’s Thin Blue Line Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 271 to 143, with 48 Democrats voting in favor of the bill.
Read the full op-ed here or below.
We need to crack down on cop killers. Congress can help.
By Congressman Vern Buchanan and Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells
Every time a law enforcement officer or first responder puts on their uniform and heads out the door, they make a solemn promise: to protect and serve, even at great personal risk. Tragically, that risk has grown far too high. In 2024, 342 officers were shot in the line of duty and 50 were tragically killed.
This is unacceptable. We must make it absolutely clear: if you target a cop, you will face the full force of the law.
That’s why we’re urging Congress to pass the Thin Blue Line Act, a commonsense measure that ensures cop killers face the most severe consequences under federal law. Our message is simple: we back the blue. That support must include real accountability for those who seek to do them harm.
The numbers are staggering. According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, the U.S. saw an eight percent increase in officers shot and killed in the line of duty in 2024 compared to the year prior. U.S. law enforcement officers were also terrorized with 61 ambush-style attacks, leaving 79 officers wounded and 18 dead. These are not isolated incidents—they are part of a disturbing trend of violence against law enforcement. Officers are increasingly being targeted not for what they’ve done, but for who they are and what they represent.
This comes on the heels of years of anti-police rhetoric that has damaged morale, undermined recruitment and eroded the public trust in law enforcement. Departments across the country are struggling to fill their ranks, while brave officers continue to report for duty knowing that they have become targets.
The Thin Blue Line Act is a long-overdue response to this crisis. It would make the murder or attempted murder of a police officer or first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations involving federal jurisdiction—bringing the same protections already provided to federal officials to local and state law enforcement and first responders. It applies whether the officer or responder is killed on duty, because of their duties or simply because they wear the badge.
This isn’t a partisan issue. In 2017, the bill passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote of 271 to 143, including support from 48 Democrats. It closes a critical gap in federal law and delivers a powerful message: our justice system stands firmly with those who stand in harm’s way.
That’s why the bill has earned the backing of law enforcement leaders and organizations across the country. It’s supported by the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and the United States Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, to name just a few.
Here in Florida, we’ve personally witnessed far too many officers killed in the line of duty. Last year alone, eight officers were killed across our state, twice as many as in 2023 and the fifth-most in the nation. Floridians know that we must hold criminals committing these unspeakable acts of violence accountable, which is why this legislation has previously been championed by U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as U.S. Attorney General and former Attorney General of Florida Pam Bondi.
Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. They deserve more than platitudes—they deserve action. Congress must pass the Thin Blue Line Act and send an unmistakable message to would-be cop killers that if you target a cop, you will face the harshest penalties under the law.
As we commemorate National Police Week and honor our men and women in blue, now is the time to stand with our law enforcement and first responders. Let’s do our part to protect those who protect us.
