When a person decides they want to become a commissioned officer, whether it be a patrol or correctional officer, they do so with an understanding that certain risks come with the job. From day one in the academy, it is drilled into your head that a career in law enforcement comes with numerous dangers. Most jobs do not require employees to put themselves in harm’s way or risk their lives. Name a job or a career where you get shot at, stabbed, attacked, constantly accused of wrongdoing and face scrutiny for every decision you make. If I work in a coffee shop or a restaurant and get a customer’s order wrong, I may face the wrath of an angry customer, but at no time do I think my life would be in jeopardy for this action.

All over the world, law enforcement officers of all varieties are essentially under attack. The rate of assaults on American law enforcement reached a 10-year high in 2023, with more than 79,000 officer attacks reported, according to an FBI report. In the U.S., approximately half a million correctional officers are responsible for supervising more than two million inmates. Correctional officers face unique workplace hazards within a controlled prison environment. Of all U.S. workers, correctional officers have one of the highest rates of nonfatal work-related injuries. They experienced 544 work-related injuries or illnesses per 10,000 full-time employees (FTEs) that were serious enough to require missing a day of work. This rate was more than four times greater than the rate for all workers who missed a day of work. Additionally, correctional officers experienced 254 work-related injuries per 10,000 FTEs due to assaults and violent acts — considerably higher than the rate of injuries from assaults and violent acts for all workers.

Despite these high injury rates among correctional officers, injury prevention research has lagged. As an important first step in the development of evidence-based workplace safety programs for correctional officers, a complete picture of work-related injuries is needed. As of today, just here with the LVMPD, we have had four officers injured in attacks within the last month. The question that I would like to have answered is: What are the ramifications for perpetrating these heinous attacks? I have known and been associated with numerous officers over the years who have been attacked and injured by the actions of an incarcerated person. I have also seen these individuals not face any sanctions or repercussions for their actions.

A few months ago, a district court judge was attacked in open court, and, according to reports, the attacker was sentenced to 26 to 65 years in prison. I think he is right where he belongs, but my concern is that the individuals who attack our officers do not receive anything close to this type of treatment. The message is loud and clear from the criminal justice system: you have to be someone to receive justice. Our officers are now faced with dealing with the mental and physical stress of having been attacked at work, yet they don’t have the luxury of not returning to work. The bills will still be due at the end of the month, and the officers’ responsibilities do not lessen. An officer should not come to work apprehensive or in fear of being attacked, especially when the inmate responsible could get off scot-free.

Our administration is only concerned with making sure we have programs and modules with flowers and plants, creating a wonderful environment for people who have committed crimes. No one seems to concern themselves with the well-being of the brave men and women who do this job and have to struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As evidence, in December, President Joe Biden commuted the death sentence of an individual in Georgia. The inmate killed a prison guard, and he got the reward of being pardoned by his president for killing an innocent man. I wonder if Joe put any thought into how that officer’s family feels. No one ever concerns themselves with the victims, but they spend money and resources attempting to cure the cause of these heinous attacks, and, quite frankly, they are failing. I challenge our district attorney’s office to stand by our officers and not let these criminals get away with the attacks and vicious assaults being levied against our officers. Make the punishment fit the crime. A wise American once said, “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”