The Gainesville Police Department confirmed four officers were injured after being assaulted in two unrelated incidents over the weekend, and local officials see it as part of a trend.
"Over the past couple of years, law enforcement has experienced their own pandemic," Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook said in a phone interview with AccessWDUN. "It's been one of those where violence has grown against law enforcement."
According to a press release, two female officers responded to a call about a 5'6" 270-pound minor allegedly physically assaulting social workers.
Despite attempts to de-escalate, "the juvenile began physically assaulting the two officers." The officers were taken to the hospital while the youth was taken in for a mental evaluation.
Officials say another incident occurred at a local motel after officers made contact with a man who was refusing to leave.
GPD says 27-year-old Leland Hawke Amerson "headbutted one of the officers in the nose and immediately began assaulting the others." Amerson now faces two counts of felony obstruction and two counts of misdemeanor obstruction.
"It's not something we just see locally; it's nationwide," Holbrook said. "This violence against law enforcement has almost become the norm, and it's not a new normal that we want to live with."
The news comes the same weekend that FBI Director Chris Wray appeared on several national television programs to discuss the rising violence against officers.
"Violence against law enforcement in this country is one of the biggest phenomena that I think doesn't get enough attention," Wray told Fox News.
A report issued this month from the National Fraternal Order of Police found 101 officers were shot in the line of duty in 2022. Seven of those were here in Georgia. According to the organization, that represents a more than 40% increase nationwide year-over-year.
"Our men and women put on their uniforms each day with the idea of serving to make our community a safer and better place," Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said in a press release. "I pray for our officers daily. This is just an example of where a regular workday can turn tragic for those wearing the badge."
