SR765: SR765 Law Enforcement Officers; recognize

26 LC 129 0654 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 the1 United States; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, more than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the United States risk their lives3 daily to serve and protect their communities, including more th an 23,000 in the state of4 Georgia; and5 WHEREAS, there are now more than 24,000 names counted among Ame rica's fallen law6 enforcement heroes on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial dating7 back to 1786, including 753 from the state of Georgia; and8 WHEREAS, our nation's law enforcement officers perform their difficult and dangerous job9 honorably and professionally, with the overwhelming majority of Americans having10 responded positively to their interactions with police; and11 WHEREAS, innovative and dedicated efforts by law enforcement of ficers successfully12 brought down crime rates over the past three decades from the historic highs experienced in13 the 1990s; and14 S. R. 765 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0654 WHEREAS, the environment for officers has become increasingly m ore hostile and their15 safety having become more precarious, with over 79,000 law enforcement officers having16 been assaulted by criminals in 2023, the highest officer assaul t rate in the past 10 years;17 1,055 officers having been shot during the past three years; and 172 killed in the line of duty;18 and19 WHEREAS, more than 2,500 law enforcement officers in the United States have died in the20 line of duty during the past decade; and21 WHEREAS, law enforcement officers typically encounter between 400 and 600 traumatic22 events during their careers, compared with three or four for the average citizen; and23 WHEREAS, the unusually high number of traumatic events experienced by law enforcement24 officers has contributed to a 54 percent higher suicide rate among officers than among other25 American workers; and26 WHEREAS, the number of full-time state and local officers dropped by 5.3 percent between27 2019 and 2021, the equivalent of nearly 37,000 fewer officers, leaving behind a dangerously28 low level of sworn officers to serve and protect our communities; and29 WHEREAS, supporting law enforcement officers with the equipment, training, and funding30 needed to protect American communities from criminal violence h as long received31 overwhelming public support from across the political spectrum.32 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body33 remember and honor the officers and families who have experienced a death or injury in the34 S. R. 765 - 2 - 26 LC 129 0654 line of duty, support increased measures to be taken to maximize the safety and well-being35 of officers, and recognize all officers currently serving.36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed37 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the38 press.39 S. R. 765 - 3 -