Violence Against Police Must Stop – And We Need Congress to Act

By Tom Weitzel, Riverside's former police chief:

I am outraged by the alarming reports of ten officers shot in just the past six days, with three tragically losing their lives while on duty. It is imperative that Congress immediately pass the “Protect and Serve Act.”

Chief Weitzel has stated, “So far this year, 196 officers have been shot in the line of duty, and 26 have been killed. There have been 44 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers.” This includes the shocking incidents involving ten officers shot recently, with three officers slain in cold-blooded ambushes in Ohio, Kansas, and New York. Congress must act now!

The “Protect and Serve Act,” initially approved by the House in 2018, aims to create a federal offense for anyone who “willingly” attacks a law enforcement officer. In 2025 alone, twelve officers have been murdered in ambush-style attacks. How many more must fall before Congress takes decisive action?

This crucial bill has been reintroduced as S. 167 in the Senate and currently boasts 18 cosponsors. The companion bill in the House, H.R. 1551, has rallied 84 cosponsors. Yet, the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary have failed to schedule any action on these bills. That must change immediately! I insist that our lawmakers prioritize the safety of our law enforcement officers!