Senate Resolution 765
By: Senators Brass of the 6th, Williams of the 25th, Robertson of the 29th, Still of the 48th,
Walker III of the 20th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending the law enforcement officers in the state of Georgia and the
United States; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, more than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the United States risk their lives
daily to serve and protect their communities, including more than 23,000 in the state of
Georgia; and
WHEREAS, there are now more than 24,000 names counted among America's fallen law
enforcement heroes on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial dating
back to 1786, including 753 from the state of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, our nation's law enforcement officers perform their difficult and dangerous job
honorably and professionally, with the overwhelming majority of Americans having
responded positively to their interactions with police; and
WHEREAS, innovative and dedicated efforts by law enforcement officers successfully
brought down crime rates over the past three decades from the historic highs experienced in
the 1990s; and
WHEREAS, the environment for officers has become increasingly more hostile and their
safety having become more precarious, with over 79,000 law enforcement officers having
been assaulted by criminals in 2023, the highest officer assault rate in the past 10 years;
1,055 officers having been shot during the past three years; and 172 killed in the line of duty;
and
WHEREAS, more than 2,500 law enforcement officers in the United States have died in the
line of duty during the past decade; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement officers typically encounter between 400 and 600 traumatic
events during their careers, compared with three or four for the average citizen; and
WHEREAS, the unusually high number of traumatic events experienced by law enforcement
officers has contributed to a 54 percent higher suicide rate among officers than among other
American workers; and
WHEREAS, the number of full-time state and local officers dropped by 5.3 percent between
2019 and 2021, the equivalent of nearly 37,000 fewer officers, leaving behind a dangerously
low level of sworn officers to serve and protect our communities; and
WHEREAS, supporting law enforcement officers with the equipment, training, and funding
needed to protect American communities from criminal violence has long received
overwhelming public support from across the political spectrum.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
remember and honor the officers and families who have experienced a death or injury in the
line of duty, support increased measures to be taken to maximize the safety and well-being
of officers, and recognize all officers currently serving.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the
press.