PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Law enforcement officers faced unprecedented violence, with 80,000 officers assaulted nationwide in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. <\/p>\n
For Phoenix Police Officer Jessica Hunting, those statistics represent more than data points; they reflect a life-altering reality that continues to impact officers long after their injuries heal.<\/p>\n
Hunting was responding to what seemed like a routine disturbance call near 18th Street and Southern Avenue on May 30, something she\u2019s done dozens of times in her career.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeen in a lot of situations that were a little bit similar to what happened, but the outcome definitely threw me for a loop,\u201d Hunting said.<\/p>\n
According to investigators, the suspect, Joseph Huggins<\/a>, turned violent during an attempted arrest. In seconds, Officer Hunting was punched in the face with such force, it shattered her nose<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cI ended up taking two punches to the face, which caused my nose to break. And then after the second punch, my ankle snapped and I fell to the ground,\u201d she described.<\/p>\n While injuries are often classified as \u201cnon-life-threatening,\u201d Hunting\u2019s experience illustrates how assaults on Valley officers can be life-changing.<\/p>\n \u201cPhysically, it\u2019s been rough. Emotionally, it\u2019s been very, very tough on top of it as well. And then emotionally can also turn into a financial struggle too,\u201d Hunting explained.<\/p>\n Unable to work overtime shifts, she said her income took a major hit during her recovery period. <\/p>\n \u201cI love working. I don\u2019t just take my regular three days off like a lot of people do,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n Hunting\u2019s case highlights that violence against officers doesn\u2019t always involve a gun. <\/p>\n Data from the FBI shows law enforcement officers in Arizona were shot at nearly 200 times in 2023, but physical assaults like Hunting\u2019s can be equally devastating.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have people that are here that will support us, that will be there through us through tough times, whether it\u2019s physically, emotionally, or even financially,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association steps in. The organization\u2019s president, Darrell Kriplean, said the message he shares with the community is that behind the badge, there\u2019s still a person who has to live with the aftermath.<\/p>\n \u201cOur officers are men and women who bravely leave the comforts of their home and their families every day to go out and serve our community. They also do it with knowing full well that they don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen during that shift,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Thanks to organizations like PLEA Charities, Hunting is still healing, still rebuilding and still serving.<\/p>\n \u201cI just finished up week two of being back on patrol and it feels amazing to be back. I\u2019ve missed it. Four months was way too long,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n Nationally, intentional killings of officers have been on the rise. Although violent crime rates are now declining in Phoenix and nationally, incidents of violence involving officers continue to increase.<\/p>\n PLEA has stepped in to help Hunting recover financially. Through Valley Toyota Dealers, PLEA Charities is raffling off a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport. <\/p>\n Tickets are available now through Oct. 31 for only $20 at RevUpWinaTruck.org<\/a>. The winning ticket will be drawn on Nov. 1 at noon at the Horsepower for Heroes charity car show held at Martins Auto Museum. <\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n