• Who Are We?

    Citizens Behind the Badge is a 501(c)(4) IRS-approved nonprofit organization. We serve as the leading voice of the American people in support of the men and women in law enforcement. Our mission is to end the disastrous movement to "defund and defame the police" and ensure that our officers receive the support and respect they need and deserve to keep America safe.

  • Police and Crime Facts and Figures

    Citizens Behind the Badge uncovers the troubling consequences of the "defund and defame the police" movement and provides the true facts about police and crime in America.

  • America's Law Enforcement Heroes

    More than 800,000 policing professionals heroically serve and protect our communities every day. CBB honors their service and tells their stories.

  • Honoring the Fallen

    More than 24,000 names are inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Citizens Behind the Badge honors and remembers all of these fallen American heroes.

  • Declare Your Support for Law Enforcement

    Our officers need to know they have the respect and support of the citizens they serve. Citizens Behind the Badge is working to get millions of Americans to sign a “Declaration of Support for Law Enforcement.” Those declarations will be sent to your local police department and sheriff's office. Please sign by clicking on the button below.

378 officers were shot while on patrol in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022

More than 24,000 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty

71 officers died in the line of duty during the first half of 2024--a 15% increase over the same time last year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) registered close to 2.5 million migrant encounters at the southern U.S. border in fiscal year 2023.

More than 800,000 officers risk their lives daily serving and protecting our nation

Of the 53.8 million U.S. residents who had an interaction with police in 2020, 99% said no police misconduct occurred

Of the 53.8 million interactions with U.S. residents in 2020, force of any kind was used by the officers less than 2% of the time

73% of law enforcement officers surveyed have never fired their weapon in the line of duty

On average, a New York City police officer would have to work 694 years before they ever shot and killed a criminal suspect

The U.S. Dept. of Justice has reported that there is no statistically-significant difference between the percentage of Whites (12%), Blacks (11%) and Hispanics (10%) stopped by police

A 2016 study found that there is no racial bias when it comes to individuals shot by police

Kids from fatherless homes are 20 times more likely to be incarcerated and 11 times more likely to exhibit violent behavior than children from two-parent households

America now has the fewest number of law enforcement officers per residents than at any time in more than 25 years

The deadliest year in U.S. law enforcement history was 2021 when 623 officers died in the line of duty

On average, there is one life saved per 10-17 police officers hired

In Washington, DC, the average homicide suspect was arrested 11 times before they committed the murder

There are over 240 million calls to 9-1-1 every year in the U.S.

As many as one-third of all police shootings have indications of "suicide by cop"

In Minneapolis, the number of police officers is now 40% fewer than at the start of 2020

Violent crime in Washington, D.C. soared 39% in 2023

Nationwide, suburban and rural crime is rising at alarming rates

Washington, D.C.: Homicides up 34% in 2023

In Seattle, low police salary is the major reason cited by recruit candidates as to why the city is facing an officer shortage crisis

Nationwide, the gun homicide rate rose 45% from 2019 - 2021

Nationwide, homicides are up 21.5% and aggravated assaults are up 9%, when comparing 2023 numbers to 2019

Nationwide, mail theft has more than quadrupled since 2018, while funding for the Postal Inspection Service has decreased

The average age of those arrested for carjacking in Washington, D.C. in 2023 was 15

Austin (TX) is now facing a public safety crisis that started when the city council voted to defund the police budget by $150 million in 2020

378 U.S. officers were shot while on patrol in 2023--a 14% increase from 2022 and a record high

A record-high 115 officers were shot in ambush-style attacks in 2023

Nationwide, homicides are up 21.5% and aggravated assaults are up 9%, when comparing 2023 numbers to 2019

Overall crime in New York City has skyrocketed nearly 34% when comparing 2023 numbers to 2019

Homicides in Washington, D.C. rose 34% in 2023 compared to the prior year

378 officers were shot while on patrol in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022 • More than 24,000 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty • 71 officers died in the line of duty during the first half of 2024--a 15% increase over the same time last year. • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) registered close to 2.5 million migrant encounters at the southern U.S. border in fiscal year 2023. • More than 800,000 officers risk their lives daily serving and protecting our nation • Of the 53.8 million U.S. residents who had an interaction with police in 2020, 99% said no police misconduct occurred • Of the 53.8 million interactions with U.S. residents in 2020, force of any kind was used by the officers less than 2% of the time • 73% of law enforcement officers surveyed have never fired their weapon in the line of duty • On average, a New York City police officer would have to work 694 years before they ever shot and killed a criminal suspect • The U.S. Dept. of Justice has reported that there is no statistically-significant difference between the percentage of Whites (12%), Blacks (11%) and Hispanics (10%) stopped by police • A 2016 study found that there is no racial bias when it comes to individuals shot by police • Kids from fatherless homes are 20 times more likely to be incarcerated and 11 times more likely to exhibit violent behavior than children from two-parent households • America now has the fewest number of law enforcement officers per residents than at any time in more than 25 years • The deadliest year in U.S. law enforcement history was 2021 when 623 officers died in the line of duty • On average, there is one life saved per 10-17 police officers hired • In Washington, DC, the average homicide suspect was arrested 11 times before they committed the murder • There are over 240 million calls to 9-1-1 every year in the U.S. • As many as one-third of all police shootings have indications of "suicide by cop" • In Minneapolis, the number of police officers is now 40% fewer than at the start of 2020 • Violent crime in Washington, D.C. soared 39% in 2023 • Nationwide, suburban and rural crime is rising at alarming rates • Washington, D.C.: Homicides up 34% in 2023 • In Seattle, low police salary is the major reason cited by recruit candidates as to why the city is facing an officer shortage crisis • Nationwide, the gun homicide rate rose 45% from 2019 - 2021 • Nationwide, homicides are up 21.5% and aggravated assaults are up 9%, when comparing 2023 numbers to 2019 • Nationwide, mail theft has more than quadrupled since 2018, while funding for the Postal Inspection Service has decreased • The average age of those arrested for carjacking in Washington, D.C. in 2023 was 15 • Austin (TX) is now facing a public safety crisis that started when the city council voted to defund the police budget by $150 million in 2020 • 378 U.S. officers were shot while on patrol in 2023--a 14% increase from 2022 and a record high • A record-high 115 officers were shot in ambush-style attacks in 2023 • Nationwide, homicides are up 21.5% and aggravated assaults are up 9%, when comparing 2023 numbers to 2019 • Overall crime in New York City has skyrocketed nearly 34% when comparing 2023 numbers to 2019 • Homicides in Washington, D.C. rose 34% in 2023 compared to the prior year •

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Urge your Senators to cosponsor S.Res. 218, authored by U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), which expresses support for law enforcement and condemns the "defund and defame the police" movement. You can find info on how to contact your Senator and Representative here:

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Board of Directors

Craig W. Floyd

Director, President & CEO

Bill Erfurth

Director, Secretary/Treasurer

Dennis Collins

Director

Law Enforcement Advisory Council

Important Facts and Figures

Our nation’s law enforcement officers are better educated, better trained and better equipped than at any time in American history. That is the undeniable truth. But law enforcement leaders are also mindful of the guidance provided by Sir Robert Peel, the acknowledged father of modern policing, who said, “The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.”

240 Million

Calls to 9-1-1 in US every year

378

Number of officers shot in the line of duty in 2023

0
Number of names on National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
0
Number of full-time sworn law enforcement officers serving in the U.S.
0
Percentage of officers who have never fired their weapon in the line of duty

Line of Duty Deaths in United States

Source: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

For many more facts and figures visit our full page here: Facts & Figures

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Help Support Our Cause

Your generous donation will help us put an end to the misguided and disastrous movement to 'defund and defame the police,' and provide a much needed public voice in support of our law enforcement professionals.

Citizens Behind the Badge is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization based in McLean, Virginia.

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