Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Tuesday that law enforcement offers have been more reluctant to do their jobs in the face of “viral videos” and “targeted killings of police” around the nation.
“They’re more reluctant to get out of their squad cars and do the hard but necessary work of up-close policing that builds trust and prevents violent crime,” Sessions explained in a speech to the National Association of Attorneys General in Washington, D.C.
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According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 22 officers have been killed in the line of duty so far in 2017. Last year, there were 142 deaths, including the July 2016 ambush shooting of five officers in Dallas, Texas, during a peaceful protest against police-related killings.
Sessions also promised that his Justice Department would prioritize cases against violent crimes involving gun usage, trafficking cartels and gangs.
“And we will enforce our immigration laws and prosecute those who repeatedly violate our borders,” Sessions added.
