According to data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Uniform Crime Reports, the number of suspects assaulting and shooting at police officers has risen significantly in recent years.
The report comes on the heels of last month’s shooting in Burnsville that left two Minnesota police officers dead after they were ambushed by a suspect with a gun. And while officer involved shootings have grown signficantly over the past couple years, the data suggests that these incidents are rarely fatal for the officer. Only 11 Minnesota police officers have died in the line of duty between 2004 and 2023.
Police And Violent Suspect Data
The rise of violence against police officers in Minnesota has been significant over the last few years. For example, in 2019 there were about 400 violent assaults against Minnesota police officers. In 2023, the number of attacks more than doubled to over 900 such assaults. Shootings have seen an even starker rise over that same time period. Suspects fired guns at officers on 10 separate occasions in 2019, but there were 59 such shootings in 2023. Additionally, felony cases involving firearms increased nearly 50 percent from 2019 to 2023.
The data suggests that there were a number of different contributing factors to the rise in assaults on officers. The COVID-19 pandemic affected people both physically and mentally, but the pandemic also saw a surge in gun purchases, some of which by now have made their way onto the black market and into the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them. The typical criminal today may have more access to a gun than in 2019, raising the odds that an encounter with police could turn into a shootout. Of course, the murder of George Floyd also led to increased emotion between police and civilians, perhaps increasing the likelihood that an interaction will turn hostile.
It is clearly a dangerous time to be protecting and serving in Minnesota, and while much of the impetus for change relies on suspects and civilians from making wiser choices when interacting with police, law enforcement officials would be wise to learn and add more de-escalation techniques to their repertoire. Tensions are already high, and if they escalate a situation, it can turn deadly in a moment. Both sides need to consider all possible outcomes and make a wise choice for the situation.
As defense lawyers, we strongly recommend complying with an officers instructions and keeping a calm demeanor. Getting physical, trying to run or brandishing a weapon will take your situation from bad to worse, and you’re not going to like the fallout from your actions. We can help you avoid a worse case scenario, but that’s only if you drop the shovel and stop digging yourself into a deeper hole. Keep the firearms holstered when interacting with police so that both parties can go home to their families at the end of the day.
If you need help navigating a sticky legal situation, pick up the phone and call the experienced criminal defense team at Appelman Law Firm at (952) 224-2277.
