Law enforcement officers are facing more and more attacks, National Fraternal Order of Police says - KOKI FOX 23

TULSA, Okla. — The National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) said that law enforcement officers are facing more and more ambush style attacks.

The Tulsa FOP Chapter says that Tulsa hasn’t seen these attacks as often as other parts of the country. However, the organization explained that seeing these attacks across the nation, as well as increasing negative rhetoric against law enforcement, take their toll on officers, including those working in Tulsa.

“I have always been a high paced individual, I have always been go, go, go,” says Tulsa County Deputy Justin Anderson.

Anderson has been a sheriff’s deputy since 2018.

“I was the first group of deputies the sheriff promoted,” he said.

He patrols the streets. He also works in wildlife-animal control. His prior experience as a cattle rancher comes in handy here.

“It really goes from day to day. It can be the calmest, smoothest, driving around waving at people doing community policing to a foot pursuit, jumping fences and high-speed pursuits,” Anderson explains.

Anderson became a deputy during a time when police came under intense scrutiny nationwide. That is still the case. He also serves at a time when the National Fraternal Order of Police says ambush-style attacks on police are up 126 percent since 2020.

“Here in Oklahoma we have had some ambush style attacks on police but luckily not in Tulsa,” said Jeff Downs, Fraternal Order of Police Chief for Lodge 93. Downs says Tulsa has not seen the ambush attacks that have happened across the country. Yet police are still being shot at.

Sgt. Craig Johnson was shot and killed in Tulsa in 2020 and multiple other officers involved shootings have happened in the area since.

Downs says ambush attacks, and the negative rhetoric, take their toll on police, even if they do not happen in Tulsa.

“On top of all existing dangers to police now you have this new additional danger and it weighs heavy on them,” said Downs.

He believes it’s part of the reason recruiting numbers are down for Tulsa police.

“As long as they still have that motivation to make things better or to prevent people from being victims it is always a positive thing,” Downs said.

The sheriff’s office is down more than 35 certified deputies, despite the manpower shortage Anderson is happy to saddle up and do the job.

“I love doing it every single day.”

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