Police

Violent crime in the United States peaked in 1990 at 750 per 100,000 population. It has been on the decline to 360 per 100,000 in 2015 but it has since risen to over 400. This 30 year record shows that policing has been effective but recent events have challenged police. Most departments across the country have seen an increase in resignations and early retirements. On top of that recruitment of new officers is down by 50%. The result is that many departments are lowering the requirements regarding things like education and physicals. A number of experts have concluded that the country is headed toward a perfect storm of retirements, resignations and negative narrative on cops. For most of the years since 1990 the number of officers killed in the line of duty averaged about 170 per year but in 2020 the number was 373 and in 2021 the number was 472. Last year the number declined to 323 and that was attributed to the Covid shutdown. Here is the results of a survey taken in September of 2021. 75% say police help them feel safe. 67% say police are widely trusted. 44% want more funding for unconscious bias training. 20% Support defunding police. 62% of officers say the job is more difficult today.