Bill Text: NJ ACR176 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses support for US and NJ law enforcement officers; urges all levels of government to take action to increase support, safety, and well-being of law enforcement officers.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-11-24 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee [ACR176 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-ACR176-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 176
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 24, 2025
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses support for US and NJ law enforcement officers; urges all levels of government to take action to increase support, safety, and well-being of law enforcement officers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging action to increase the support, safety, and well-being of law enforcement officers.
Whereas, There are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the United States; and
Whereas, There are now more than 24,000 names counted among America's fallen law enforcement heroes on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, dating back to 1786, including 592 from the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, Our nation's law enforcement officers perform their difficult and dangerous job honorably and professionally, with the overwhelming majority of Americans having responded positively to their interactions with police; and
Whereas, Innovative and dedicated efforts by law enforcement officers successfully brought down crime rates over the past three decades from the historic highs experienced in the 1990s; and
Whereas, Across the country, the environment for officers has become more hostile and their safety has become more precarious, with over 79,000 law enforcement officers having been assaulted by criminals in 2023, the highest officer assault rate within the preceding 10 years, and approximately 200 officers were killed in the line of duty between 2021 and 2023, according to FBI statistics; and
Whereas, More than 2,500 law enforcement officers in the United States have died in the line of duty during the past decade; and
Whereas, Law enforcement officers typically encounter between 400 and 600 traumatic events during their careers, compared with three or four for the average citizen; and
Whereas, The unusually high number of traumatic events experienced by law enforcement officers has contributed to a suicide rate that is 54 percent higher among officers as compared to other American workers; and
Whereas, Between 2019 and 2021, the number of full-time state and local law enforcement officers dropped by 5.3 percent, a loss of nearly 37,000 officers, resulting in a dangerously low level of sworn officers to serve and protect our communities; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey remembers and honors the officers and families who have experienced a death or injury in the line of duty; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey highly respects and values the efforts and sacrifices of our nation's law enforcement officers and greatly appreciates all they do to protect and serve our communities; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges all levels of government in New Jersey and across the United States to take heightened action to maximize the safety and well-being of law enforcement officers and ensure that officers receive the support and resources they need to keep our nation's communities safe, which may include increasing the total number of law enforcement personnel; improving law enforcement equipment and training; strengthening penalties for assaulting or killing a law enforcement officer; and expanding mental health resources for law enforcement officers.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor and Attorney General of every state in the United States.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution urges all levels of government in New Jersey and across the United States to take heightened action to maximize the safety and well-being of law enforcement officers and ensure that officers receive the support and resources they need to keep our nation's communities safe. This may require increasing the total number of law enforcement personnel; improving law enforcement equipment and training; strengthening penalties for assaulting and killing a law enforcement officer; and expanding mental health resources for law enforcement officers.
The State of New Jersey highly respects and values the efforts and sacrifices of our nation's law enforcement officers, who perform their difficult and dangerous job honorably and professionally. Accordingly, it is appropriate for this State to express support and urge increased resources for law enforcement.
