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FEDERALcongressional record

Congressional Tribute to Fallen Law Enforcement Officers

Original title: REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN OFFICERS

May 14, 2026

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The Frame

What this does

The document highlights a legislative push for the 'Protect and Serve Act,' which aims to increase federal penalties for individuals who target or ambush law enforcement officers.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Law enforcement officers

The proposed Protect and Serve Act would change the legal penalties for individuals who target them.

Criminal defendants

Individuals who target law enforcement would face increased federal penalties under the proposed legislation.

What changed

Last recorded activity May 14, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

During National Police Week, Representatives John Rutherford and Josh Gottheimer honored 363 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2025. The representatives highlighted rising rates of violence against police and advocated for the passage of the Protect and Serve Act to increase penalties for those who target officers.

Key Facts

  • 363 law enforcement officers were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2026.
  • 111 officers were killed in the line of duty during 2025.
  • 347 officers were shot in the line of duty in 2025, with 45 fatalities.
  • 67 ambush-style attacks occurred in 2025, resulting in 90 officers shot and 22 deaths.
  • There were over 90,000 assaults on law enforcement officers in 2025.
  • The 2025 officer assault rate was 13.8 per 100 officers, the highest in 10 years.
  • The Protect and Serve Act is a bipartisan bill introduced to increase penalties for targeting or ambushing law enforcement.
  • Officer Phillip C. Wagner (Lorain Police Department) died on July 24, 2025, following an ambush.
  • Detectives Cody Becker, Mark Baker, and Isaiah Emenheiser (Northern York County Regional Police Department) were killed in an ambush on September 17, 2025.

Why It Matters

The document highlights a legislative push for the 'Protect and Serve Act,' which aims to increase federal penalties for individuals who target or ambush law enforcement officers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Protect and Serve Act?
It is a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Rutherford and Gottheimer intended to increase penalties for individuals who target, ambush, or harm law enforcement officers.
How many officers were killed in the line of duty in 2025?
According to the record, 111 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2025.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Increased focus on ambush-style attacks

The record highlights a specific legislative focus on 'ambush-style' attacks, citing a 10-year high in assault rates against officers.

Connected Entities

personJohn RutherfordU.S. Representative from Florida and former sheriff.Map →
personMark BakerNorthern York County Regional Police Department detective killed in the line of Map →
personJosh GottheimerU.S. Representative from New Jersey and co-chair of the House Law Enforcement CaMap →
personPeter GaleLorain Police Department officer injured in the line of duty.Map →
personIsaiah EmenheiserNorthern York County Regional Police Department detective killed in the line of Map →
personCody BeckerNorthern York County Regional Police Department detective killed in the line of Map →
personPhillip C. WagnerLorain Police Department officer killed in the line of duty.Map →
personBrent PayneLorain Police Department officer injured in the line of duty.Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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