Reporting Violence Against Police Officers and noting the Link Between Drug Trafficking and Increasing Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers
Submitted by: Narcotics Dangerous Drugs Committee
ndd.013.A11

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recognizes that the law enforcement community has the singular responsibility to preserve law and order and protect the rights of all persons; and

WHEREAS, violence is a primary concern of communities worldwide; and

WHEREAS, according to statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 56 law enforcement officers in the United State were feloniously killed in the line of duty during 2010 and, of these, 15 were killed during ambushes. The FBI's statistics for 2009 indicate that 48 officers were feloniously killed and 14,985 of 57,268 assaulted officers suffered injuries, all of whom were performing their duties at the time; and

WHEREAS, the illegal drug trade has been identified as a key contributor of violence; and

WHEREAS, based upon reputable news reports, there is reason to believe that law enforcement officers worldwide are increasingly targeted by members of violent drug trafficking organizations and other criminal elements; and

WHEREAS, there is a lack of statistical reporting that specifically tracks drug-related violence against law enforcement officers; and

WHEREAS, violence against law enforcement officers resulting from their efforts to disrupt the illicit drug trade is equivalent to a deliberate attack on society and the rule of law; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 118th Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois, strongly encourages all law enforcement agencies to actively and systematically record and report all acts of violence against law enforcement officers; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police strongly encourages all law enforcement agency to specifically identify those acts of violence that are drug-related; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that these information be used in order to build support for increasing the penalties for such acts and to demonstrate the need for law enforcement officers to be provided with additional resources to protect themselves and the communities which they serve.