After ‘Defund the Police,’ Murder Rates Surged. Are You Surprised?

After ‘Defund the Police,’ Murder Rates Surged. Are You Surprised?

Radical Democrats in Congress and city halls across the country continue to call for police budgets to be reduced or even eliminated. New data proves these policies make our cities and neighborhoods less safe.

September 28, 2021
After ‘Defund the Police,’ Murder Rates Surged. Are You Surprised?

he number of homicides committed in 2020 increased nearly 30 percent from 2019 levels, according to FBI statistics. The 21,570 murders were the most per capita since 1997. 

Fox News: The United States experienced a nearly 30% jump in homicides in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to FBI figures released Monday, which made for the largest single-year increase in killings since the agency began tracking crimes. 

More than 21,000 homicides were reported last year, 4,901 more than in 2019, the biggest leap since the 1960s. Overall violent crime – which includes homicides, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault – increased by 5.6 % and property crimes dropped by nearly 8%, according to FBI data.

The alarming increase comes after major cities – including Washington D.C., Austin, Texas and Los Angeles – voted to strip their police departments of funds. Republicans say the “Defund the Police” movement is at least partially to blame for the surge in murders and violent crime.

Anti-police sentiment in major cities is also leading to an exodus of officers from police forces across the country. Retirements increased by 45 percent, resignations were up nearly 20 percent and cities are finding it difficult to find new recruits according to the New York Times.

Daily Caller: A number of large cities reduced police budgets or restricted policing tactics, in some cases corresponding with an increase in crime levels. 

According to the FBI, 13,377 law enforcement agencies reported staffing levels to the agency in 2020, and the rate of law enforcement employees nationwide was 3.4 per 1,000 inhabitants. That represents a decrease from 2019, when the number reported by the FBI was 3.5 per 1,000 inhabitants.

Bottom Line: Radical Democrats in Congress and city halls across the country continue to call for police budgets to be reduced or even eliminated. New data proves these policies make our cities and neighborhoods less safe.