Police Face Recruitment Crisis As Nationwide Violence Spikes

With both crime and disdain for police rising in urban areas, police departments, particularly in blue-run states like New York, California, and cities like Baltimore, are facing a major retention and recruitment crisis. 

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, while non-violent crime decreased during the pandemic, the murder rate rose nearly 30% in 2020, and the rate of assaults went up 10%.

Nearly every big city in America has a similar story. According to NYPD statistics, crime in New York City increased by 30.5% between July 2021 and July 2022.

And while Americans are reeling from violent crime spikes, police departments are struggling to fill their ranks. The Associated Press reports that Los Angeles is down more than 650 officers from its pre-pandemic levels. Seattle recently announced $2 million in hiring bonuses and benefits to entice recruits.

“We’re getting more calls for service, and there are fewer people to answer them,” said Philadelphia Police spokesperson Eric Gripp. “This isn’t just an issue in Philadelphia. Departments all over are down, and recruitment has been difficult.”

Many police officers have reached a breaking point regarding the current situation. Recently, police officers and other officials in the town of Kenly, North Carolina, submitted mass resignation letters, citing stress, a hostile work environment, and an inability to continue the department’s long-term betterment projects.

It is bad, and it is only going to get worse, which will have a tremendous impact on public safety. 

“You may be lucky if you get an officer two, three, four hours down the line,” John McNesby, head of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, told CNN.