We would all like to believe crime is not a problem or just happens – elsewhere. The truth is, as Democrat-led efforts to defund and delegitimize police continue to mature, homicides are making a comeback.
The link is clear; the need to up-fund police is just as clear.
While experts say four in ten crimes do not get reported, what is reported should make us pause. Throughout 2020, Democrat leaders at all levels pushed defunding the police, which in turn reduced recruiting and retention, accelerated retirements, demoralized entire forces.
In response, public insecurity grew, especially in minority communities. Legal gun ownership by minorities, women, and in cities with declining police presence rose. But that is not all.
As Democrat leaders have denigrated law enforcement, reduced respect and public support for police, reduced operating budgets, and left those taking risks on their own, crime has risen.
Most notably, homicides have risen – and they show no sign of pulling back. The FBI reported a shocking uptick of 15 percent in homicides nationwide in 2020. Some cities were hit especially hard, with more than 50 averaging a 36 percent jump in homicides. Even liberal news outlets could not look away, although few drew the link to defunding efforts. See, e.g., Massive 1-Year Rise In Homicide Rates Collided With The Pandemic In 2020.
Then, in 2021, homicides jumped again – by 16 percent across 29 major cities, many minor cities. Aggravated assaults jumped nine percent, even as carjackings, personal and property crime rose.
By mid-summer, murders in Los Angeles were up 36 percent, Portland 82 percent, Minneapolis 72 percent. Data collected by the Major Cities Chiefs Association showed spikes in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Orlando, Pittsburgh, cities as small as Rochester.
At the same time, other crimes are climbing the backstairs, including drug trafficking, which in 2020 produced a shocking 93,000 overdose deaths, an unprecedented 30 percent jump over 2019.
While the Washington Post rather disingenuously wrote an article entitled, “We Don’t know Why Crime is Up…,” others are less mystified. Virtually every city facing high homicide rates – in tandem with high drug trafficking – is Democrat-led and models anti-police sentiment. See, The ten most dangerous cities in the U.S. are all run by Democrats.; Essential Politics: Democrats scramble to combat rising homicide rates in American cities; We don’t know why violent crime is up. But we know there’s more than one cause..
Notably, cities like Portland, Oregon, have had the most homicides in 25 years, as of August. Seattle recorded a deadly 125 percent increase in homicides year to date in June. DC is on a record-setting pace for homicides in 2021, along with carjacking’s – which are out of control. See, e.g., Portland Records Most Homicides in More Than 25 Years; D.C. crosses 100 homicides in 2021, setting record pace; https://mynorthwest.com/3008779/rantz-seattle-deadliest-june-crime/.
So, on the one hand, these numbers are startling, worrying, in a word – arresting. On the other, a deeper look shows what is wrong, what is worth closer attention, and how to extract ourselves.
While many factors ultimately contribute to such a spike, a leading cause is failed appreciation for the role law enforcement plays in our lives and across the country. Police not only respond to crime, but they deter it. They not only represent the power of enforcement but of example.
Certainly, a raft of factors can be blamed for rising homicides – including politicians who fan racial violence, reduced border law enforcement, drug legalization and internecine drug trafficking battles, gang warfare, COVID isolation, and over-emotional public discourse.
But one factor stands out – and that one is worth reversing. Democrat-led efforts to defund and delegitimize the police have been uniquely damaging. More than 20 major cities defunded police in response to Democrat party pitches to do so – and are paying a terrible price. See, e.g., These US Cities Defunded Police: ‘We’re Transferring Money to the Community’; WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CITIES DEFUND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
Other major and minor metropolitan areas pay the price vicariously as recruiting falls and retirements rise. See, e.g., List of Cities Defunding the Police | Surge in Crime; Departures of Police Officers Accelerated During a Year of Protests; In Chicago, other cities, more cops are calling it quits, retiring amid anti-police backlash.
Is there any good news? Yes. The good news is, many Americans are waking up – they are pressing their local leaders to re-fund or up-fund police, showing support for officers again, pushing a Democrat-led Congress to stop making the nation less secure, forcing reversals. Moreover, while Democrats still push the idea, only one in five Americans agree. See, e.g., Cities Reverse Defunding the Police Amid Rising Crime; Fewer than 1 in 5 support ‘defund the police’ movement, USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll finds.
Net-net, the spike in homicides nationally is worrisome, but the reality is that law-abiding Americans know why this is happening, and they are not taking the news lying down. They are standing up for security, police, and a safer future. Support for law enforcement is vital. Better to remember that now than not at all. As with other errors, Americans work to set this right.
While a few cities have refunded the police a small percentage of the dollar amounts cut last year, there are other factors beyond simple budgetary issues that have contributed to higher crime rates. One example is bail reform, where criminals are released back out into society within hours of being arrested to commit new crimes. Another example is Democrat DAs that have unilaterally decided they will no longer prosecute certain crimes, thus legalizing certain criminal activity and endangering the public. Yet another is “prison reform”, where criminals are being released years early back onto the streets. These Democrat led “reforms” all have a cumulative effect of higher crime rates.
Police in these cities that defunded them are still, for the most part, viewed as the problem not the solution. This insane perspective is constantly being emphasized by the Democrat politicians of the cities and states they control. Every action the police take, in the course of doing their daily jobs, is under constant criticism from some community activist or politician just looking for an opportunity to file charges against a LEO. This has led to many police operating much more defensively than they normally would. Being aware that every time they step out of their squad cars to respond to a call, they risk ending up either fired or in prison due to Democrat DAs looking for another scalp to hang off their belts. So police end up second guessing their every action every day or looking for another line of work.
If you go to say NYC and ask the average person on the street, they amazingly are still for defunding the police. They know crime is higher and the streets are more dangerous, but they cling to the idea they have been sold that the police are the problem. That “more social workers are the answer or something else might work better”. They can’t connect the dots between bail reform, prison reform, a completely politicized DA system and the higher crime rates that have resulted. Sure in the America beyond the Democrat run states and cities people understand the ludicrous nature of the defund the police movement. However in the Democrat run enclaves that drove this movement in 2020, the public is still as clueless and easily manipulated by their Democrat leaders as ever. We do indeed live in two different Americas and have for quite some time. How we fix that issue, if it is still fixable at this point, which is the primary root cause of so many of these insane policies, is the real question. Just a thought.
Crime in higher value suburbs is rising fast. Lot of these people are the bleeding hearts that support the idea of no cops just social workers. Think this defund efforts are to create jobs for these idiots with degrees in social work etc. my cents worth
Vigilante time as Backup?
I disagree that this was a “mistake”. It was a deliberate, planned atrocity! And, according to Col. Cooper, the proper response to an atrocity is rage. So We the People need to be out in numbers larger than our enemies, both foreign and domestic, showing our support for our police and all on the front lines working for freedom.
Don’t let your guard down, as soon as the 2022 election is over they will go back to destroying America, in the many time buy guns and lots of ammunition, a gun is closer than a Law Enforcement office, Oh! your phone keep it handy you will need it to call the Law Enforcement for cleanup. Just like the old American express add, your gun don’t leave home without it, the only time I carry mine is when I am alone or with somebody.
God Bless American
dimrats should be very careful what they pray for ~ the people always pay the price for their idiocy.
The reality is that this whole idea of defunding and delegitimizing law enforcement is a tactic….not a mistake, not some stupid error in judgment….but a designed effort to throw the nation into chaos. The motivation is simple….when things get so bad, people will scream for help, and the only help available will be the ones who want to fully control your lives. They thrive on instability and fear. They feed that mindset with the end result that the everyday citizen will be left helpless and wanting. Then they step in as “savior” cementing their power base further. As well, they will have managed to build a “police” force that will do their bidding at every call……so if you are armed and attempt to defend yourself or your property, you will be the one on the wrong side of the “law.” Local communities need to establish their own militia style police force to augment the law enforcement who have not caved to the “official ” power mongers. Individuals need to be aware, work together with the police to build relationships that prevent the moves being made. I know from experience, if you care about, support and nurture good law enforcement people, they will stand with you….even if it means standing against their “bosses.”
It’s unfortunate that those commies did not suffer anything with the “defund”. It would definitely amuse me if something did happen to them.
Why would they put breathelyzer requirement in new cars in the infrastructure bill?
So we don’t have to fund a high way patrol to watch for drunk driving.
As a retired law enforcement officer I am amazed at the growing lack of both responsibility and accountability of citizens, legally and illegally here in America. Then put into the mix the failure to follow a lawful order when in an encounter where the police are involved and immediately the situation denigrates whereby the officer(s) need to go from officer presence to lethal force but they become the bad guys!
The next excuse to break the law will be the rising crime rate. Our new communist government will create a “national police force”(aka; strong arm thugs) to deal with this emergency and enforce their will. But who created the emergency????????????????????????????
Alaska is hiring state troopers if they can find people who will apply. Law Enforcement, keeping the peace, is controversial. It takes more courage than many have. People want jobs, but they do want to make it home after a shift. What the woke cancelers have been able to sell is such garbage. How did they persuade anyone???????
Up funding the police creates a more militaristic state. Instead of creating more soldiers , why not treat the root of the problem and create more solutions.
By investing in healthy food and proper supportive programs for the people who are committing these crimes. Let’s feed our poor not condemn them to a life of criminal suffering.
I do hope the democrats can hire social workers to guarantee the safety of the citizens of their cities. I cannot imagine the police officers those mayors and city councils claimed were responsible for racism and crime are too eager to return.
You have to be seriously masochistic if you’re even considering applying to become a law enforcement officer anywhere in America so long as demoncrats run anything. And those who are at a point that they’ve more than earned retirement…run! Don’t walk, run. Any American not prepared to defend themselves and their loved ones, you better pull your head out of the sand because democrats are hoping their “poor, oppressed” constituents get to every American they can and are supporting them every step of the way! There are no friendlies on the left!