Old Dominion University President Brian Hemphill sent an email to the university community after alumna Renee Nicole Good was killed by ICE agents in Minnesota, calling the incident an example of pervasive fear and violence and urging civility from law enforcement. Critics say his statement contributes to anti-police sentiment amid rising assaults on officers.
According to Virginia State Police, there were 3,257 assaults on law enforcement officers across the state in 2024, including one felonious killing. Data indicates that 25.8 percent of these incidents resulted in some type of injury to the officer. Most assaults occurred during responses to disturbance calls, attempts to make arrests, or while handling mental health crises.
The Fraternal Order of Police reported that in 2025, 347 law enforcement officers were shot nationwide while on duty. This continues a five-year trend where over 2,000 officers have been shot. The organization noted 67 ambush-style attacks during this period, resulting in 90 officers being shot and 22 fatalities.
Old Dominion University was founded in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary and became an independent institution known as Old Dominion College in 1962. It achieved university status in 1969 and is located in Norfolk, Virginia, offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs to over 24,000 students.
