RALEIGH, N.C. — Seven law enforcement officers have been shot, and two of them have died in just the past three weeks. The toll these tragedies take on communities, loved ones and other officers is ongoing.
What You Need To Know
Seven law enforcement officers have been shot and two have died in the past three weeks
Despite the recent violence, assaults on officers don't happen very often, according to an official with the N.C. Sheriff's Association
Most of the assailants have long records of criminal activity
At the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, Executive Vice President and General Counsel Eddie Caldwell assists sheriffs and personnel in the aftermath of these kinds of traumas.
"You know it's not just working another homicide, it's working the homicide of a colleague and a friend. And that's very difficult and, all the while, as that incident has to be dealt with other calls for service are coming in," Caldwell said.
Caldwell has served in law enforcement for over 30 years, starting as a dispatcher in his hometown of Newton, North Carolina. The assaults on officers recently, Caldwell says, has been unusual and fortunately doesn't happen often.
But he says it shouldn't happen at all.
"One of the things we need to look at is why some of these (criminals) that are killing people, not only law enforcement officers, but citizens, why they're still out on the street," he said.
Caldwell says in most cases offenders have a long record of criminal activity, prior assaults, unlawful gun possession and more.
"The length of sentence is one issue and then the length of time it takes to get them to trial once they're charged with offenses and the ability of so many of them to stay out on a very minuscule bond so they can commit more offenses while they're waiting on the trials to occur," Caldwell said.
Another issue, Caldwell said, is the severity of punishment.
"Whether or not the penalty for shooting at a law enforcement officer or shooting at a citizen ought not to be the same if you hit 'em, because in many cases it's just happenstance that someone got wounded instead of killed," he said.
Caldwell hopes during this difficult time, the community continues to support law enforcement officers.
"Give a thumb's up to an officer when you see 'em. Stop by if you see 'em in a restaurant and thank them for what they do. We know in law enforcement that the overwhelming huge majority of citizens support law enforcement and count on law enforcement to keep us a safe community. But it's always nice to hear it directly from those citizens," Caldwell said.
Caldwell says the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association will be working with the legislature in 2023 to see what can be addressed at that level to protect law enforcement officers and law-abiding citizens.