Assassinated for Wearing a Uniform

By: Chief Scott Hughes

On July 23, 2025, Officer Phillip Wagner of the Lorain Police Department—a Marine Corps veteran, husband, and father of two—was eating lunch in his patrol car with his partner when a heavily armed gunman ambushed him. This was not a robbery. Not a dispute. Not an arrest gone wrong. This was a calculated attack on law enforcement.

He was murdered because he wore the uniform.

Wagner died the next day from his injuries. His murder was not the first of its kind—and it likely won’t be the last.

A Pattern We Can No Longer Ignore

Just weeks before Wagner’s ambush, Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson was deliberately struck and killed while directing traffic. In late May, Morrow County Deputy Daniel Sherrer was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call. Three Ohio officers were murdered in 83 days. Three targeted acts of violence. Three families were shattered.

This is not a coincidence.
This is the world we now live in.

“Through the month of June, 166 law enforcement officers have been shot in this country.”
— Jay McDonald, President, Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio

The Badge is Now a Bullseye

There was a time when grabbing lunch in uniform was just another moment in the day. That time is gone.

These attacks are not just tragedies—they are warnings. Officers are being hunted, not for what they’ve done, but for what they represent.

And yet, they keep showing up. Every shift. Every call. Every risk.

But showing up shouldn’t mean getting ambushed.

A Leader’s Responsibility

As a police chief, I find myself asking hard questions in moments like this. Are we doing enough to prepare our officers for the world we’re actually living in—not the one we wish we were still in? Ambushes are no longer rare outliers. They are part of the modern threat landscape. And we owe it to every officer—especially those like Phillip Wagner—to be honest about that.

We can’t rely on outdated assumptions about safety or routine. We need to lead with clarity, adapt quickly, and support each other relentlessly. That starts with acknowledging the reality our officers face every day.

Vigilance Is How We Honor Him

Officer Wagner wasn’t in a pursuit or high-risk call. He was eating lunch.

If that doesn’t reshape how we define “routine,” nothing will.

We owe it to him—and every officer still walking the line—to never let our guard down. The cruiser. The parking lot. The lunch break. Every moment must be approached with the mindset that threats can come from anywhere.

This isn’t about fear—it’s about survival. About readiness. About going home.

Training must evolve. Situational awareness must be sharpened. And complacency—however small—must be eliminated.

The best way to honor Phillip Wagner is by ensuring we don’t lose another officer in the same way.

Ambush Attack Statistics — A Nation Under Siege

According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, during the first six months of 2025:

• 166 law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty.

• 36 of those shootings were classified as ambush-style attacks, resulting in 45 officers being shot, of whom 8 were killed.

With the tragic murder of Officer Phillip Wagner, that number is now 9 officers killed in ambush attacks so far this year.

These aren’t just statistics—they’re sons and daughters, parents and partners. They are people like Phillip Wagner, who showed up to serve and were targeted for it.

Unity is the Only Path Forward

“The only way this will stop is if we’re united in standing with law enforcement … standing with cops who come to work to protect you and me.”
— Jay McDonald, Ohio FOP

This moment demands more than mourning—it requires action.

That action includes support for the Protect Ohio Police initiative, launched by the Ohio FOP. More than a legislative effort, it’s a multifaceted political accountability campaign emphasizing stronger bail policies, judicial reform, and citizen engagement—designed to hold elected officials responsible for prioritizing officer safety.

Real protection starts with unity—and follow-through.

In Honor of Officer Phillip Wagner

Officer Wagner gave everything—not in the heat of a gunfight, not during a tactical operation, but while eating a slice of pizza, serving his city.

He was a Marine. A protector. A husband. A father.

The best way we honor him is by protecting those who still serve.

And if we don’t act—on training, on vigilance, on community support—he won’t be the last officer we bury this year.

To the officers reading this: Watch your six. Be ready. Your survival depends on it.
To the public: Stand with those who protect you—before it’s too late.