Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The FBI reports that the number of the nation’s law enforcement officers killed in attacks without warning has steadily increased over the last 30 years.

The rise is what’s prompting the FBI to examine ways to prevent ambushes and unprovoked attacks against law enforcement.

Assistant Director Michael DeLeon details the increase by percentage.

Michael DeLeon: Dating back to 1987 through 1996, that was about 10.8 percent. And then from 1997 to 2006, it rose to 17.4 percent. And then 2007 to 2016, we're actually up to 20.6 percent.

Halpern: A review of attacks will help gain insight into the issue and provide data, intelligence, and educational information to enhance officer safety training.

DeLeon: Training guides need to be revised so that when law enforcement officers are responding to incidents that are all time-sensitive, they actually need to slow down mentally and understand what they could possibly be getting into, and then put themselves in the correct position to enter that scene properly, fully aware of their surroundings, in hopes of preventing any type of attack on them.

Halpern: Learn more about the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Program at fbi.gov. With FBI, This Week, I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau.