The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Stand up for the facts! Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" Martin Golden stated on January 30, 2017 in a press conference announcing the Community Heroes Protection Act: \"Just last year, alone, 710 police officers\" were assaulted in New York state. ![\\"true\\"](\\" mostly-true/4ac7c61540eff5211f6a04d98a6bc93a.jpg.\\") ![\\"mostly- true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * Criminal Justice * Crime * New York * Martin Golden By Dan Clark February 11, 2017 # Police assaults in New York have decreased in recent years A bipartisan push in Albany would classify offenses against first responders and law enforcement officers as hate crimes. The Community Heroes Protection Act would also toughen the sentences for those convicted. State Sen. Martin J. Golden, a Republican from Brooklyn and co-sponsor of the bill, said the number of assaults on police officers in New York state should convince his colleagues to support the effort. \"The numbers show this law is definitely needed,\" Golden said. \"Just last year, alone, 710 police officers - this is just police officers - were assaulted in this state.\" Is Golden right? Were that many police officers assaulted last year? Data from the FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation has reported the number of law enforcement officers killed and assaulted in the United States since 1972. The FBI defines a law enforcement officer as a local, state, and federal public authority who ordinarily carries a badge and a firearm. The report does not include attacks on correctional officers or emergency responders, though they are included in the proposed legislation. The bureau reported 710 assaults on New York state law enforcement officers in 2015, the latest data available. That’s the lowest number since 2007, when 656 officers were assaulted. The FBI\'s New York state number, however, is not a statewide figure. It only includes assaults on law enforcement officers outside New York City. The agency said it does not have data for reported assaults on law enforcement officers in New York City. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on August 17, 2024 in In X post on Aug. 17 Photo shows “domestic Antifa are already gathering in Chicago, to create chaos during the Harris-Walz DNC.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Sabine Martin • August 21, 2024 Data from the NYPD The New York City Police Department reports its own data on police assaults, but it defines officers more broadly. The Police Department tracks assaults on police officers, peace officers, prosecutors, nurses, sanitation workers, firefighters, paramedics, city marshals, school crossing guards, traffic agents and emergency responders. The department said it does not report solely the number of assaults on law enforcement officers. Last year the department reported 1,632 assaults on people within the department\'s definition. That’s down from 2015, when 1,738 assaults were reported. Our ruling Golden said, \"Just last year alone, 710 police officers … were assaulted in this state.\" Golden relied on FBI data that does not include assaults on officers from New York City. Golden undercounted, but his point is not lost: The number of reported assaults on law enforcement officers is significant. His statement needs clarification and additional information. We rate it Mostly True. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Press conference announcing the Community Heroes Protection Act, Jan. 30, 2017 Email conversation with John Quaglione from Sen. Golden’s office Email conversation with Stephen Fischer from the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Data on Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, Years 1996 - 2015 online Email conversation and data obtained from the Office of the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Dan Clark ![](\\" ![](\\" Tom King stated on March 26, 2018 in a radio interview: A bill in Congress \"will ban all semi-automatic weapons, including pistols and shotguns. So, yes, they are coming to take away our guns.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • March 29, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Andrew Cuomo stated on March 12, 2018 in a press conference: \"The only housing authority in the state that we have actually given money to is NYCHA.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • March 23, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Cynthia Nixon stated on March 20, 2018 in her announcement to run for governor: \"Since taking office, Andrew Cuomo has given massive tax breaks to corporations and the super rich.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • March 23, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on May 30, 2018 in a tweet: Rep. Dan Donovan \"voted for Tax Cuts\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • June 4, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Christine Quinn stated on May 23, 2018 in a presentation at the State Democratic Convention: New York state has the \"second highest millionaires tax in the nation.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • May 31, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on May 10, 2018 in a tweet: \"Senator Cryin’ Chuck Schumer fought hard against the Bad Iran Deal, even going at it with President Obama, & then Voted AGAINST it! Now he says I should not have terminated the deal\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • May 24, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Edward Cox stated on May 1, 2018 in an interview on The Capital Pressroom: Marc Molinaro \"has cut taxes, his budget now is lower than it was six years ago\" in Dutchess County ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • May 24, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Hakeem Jeffries stated on April 29, 2018 in an interview on CNN: President Donald Trump’s budget \"threatened to cut $2 trillion from Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • May 4, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Chele Farley stated on April 23, 2018 in an interview on Capital Tonight: \"Kirsten Gillibrand has put forward 331 bills since she\'s been in Congress. Do you know how many of them have been passed into law? Zero!\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • May 4, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" James Tedisco stated on April 13, 2018 in a blog post : After the minimum wage for tipped workers was raised in Maine, the state \"reversed that decision due to restaurant employees organizing en masse against the measure.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • April 26, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kirsten Gillibrand stated on April 20, 2018 in a tweet: \"Black and Latino people in NYC are arrested at TEN times the rate of white people for virtually the same rate of marijuana usage.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • April 25, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Andrew Cuomo stated on April 11, 2018 in a conversation with reporters: \"I think we\'re actually ahead\" on legalizing marijuana for recreational use in New York state. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • April 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Marc Molinaro stated on April 2, 2018 in a conversation with reporters: New York has \"among the highest tax burdens of any state in the nation\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • April 12, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Brian Kolb stated on March 31, 2018 in a statement on the state budget: This year’s state budget \"continues to direct millions in taxpayer dollars in advertising to the failing Start-Up NY program\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • April 9, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Cynthia Nixon stated on March 26, 2018 in a press conference: Four years after Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised universal pre-K, \"79 percent of 4-year olds outside New York City lack full-day pre-K.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • March 30, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Tom King stated on March 26, 2018 in a radio interview: A bill in Congress \"will ban all semi-automatic weapons, including pistols and shotguns. So, yes, they are coming to take away our guns.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • March 29, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Andrew Cuomo stated on March 12, 2018 in a press conference: \"The only housing authority in the state that we have actually given money to is NYCHA.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • March 23, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Cynthia Nixon stated on March 20, 2018 in her announcement to run for governor: \"Since taking office, Andrew Cuomo has given massive tax breaks to corporations and the super rich.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • March 23, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on May 30, 2018 in a tweet: Rep. Dan Donovan \"voted for Tax Cuts\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • June 4, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Christine Quinn stated on May 23, 2018 in a presentation at the State Democratic Convention: New York state has the \"second highest millionaires tax in the nation.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Dan Clark • May 31, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on May 10, 2018 in a tweet: \"Senator Cryin’ Chuck Schumer fought hard against the Bad Iran Deal, even going at it with President Obama, & then Voted AGAINST it! Now he says I should not have terminated the deal\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Dan Clark • May 24, 2018 ### Police assaults in New York have decreased in recent years * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 8, 2024 in una publicación en Instagram: \"Maduro llega a Rusia para pedir ayuda armamentista ante las relaciones negativas con los países americanos\". ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • September 16, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 15, 2024 in a Facebook post: Former President Donald Trump posted “0-2” Sept. 15 on Truth Social. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 16, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 16, 2024 in X posts: Ryan Routh appeared in a Blackrock commercial. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 16, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 15, 2024 in a post: The apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump on Sept. 15, 2024, was “staged.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Sara Swann • September 16, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Robert Cowles stated on July 12, 2024 in Radio address: “The most recent State Budget increased funding for the Department of Tourism by 98 percent.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By D.L. Davis • September 16, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 13, 2024 in a post on Threads: “ABC lost $27M in ad revenue after advertisers pulled ads from the network after the way they hosted the debate\" on Sept. 10. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • September 15, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 8, 2024 in a social media post: Photos that show lists of school names are “school shooting lists.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Andy Nguyen • September 15, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: A video shows a body that Israel embedded with a bomb exploding during a Palestinian funeral procession. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 11, 2024 in a post: “ESPN has fired Shannon Sharpe.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Gideon Hess • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a post on Threads: An image shows Travis Kelce responding to Elon Musk X post that followed Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • September 13, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. Sign me up #### Offices District of Columbia 1800 I Street NW Washington, DC 20006 Florida 801 3rd St. S St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-821-9494 #### People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis #### State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin #### About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters #### RSS Feeds * Recent Articles and Fact-checks * Recent Fact-checks Suggest a Fact-check #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Copyright ©All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ![\\"\\"](\\" ✕ * * *
Just last year alone 710 police officers were assaulted in New York state