The increase in homicides nationwide is directly linked to hostility toward police, a spokeswoman for the National Police Association says.
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith made her comments to The Washington Times.
“I do believe that homicide rates will continue to increase as long as the vilification of law enforcement continues,” she said.
The police association is “hopeful” that Americans fully realize “that the police are not the problem; criminals, bail reform, and lax prosecutions are,” Brantner Smith said.
According to the association’s website, the organization uses “the law as a method to highlight abuses by anti-police elected officials, change behavior, and seek corrective action. In addition, we promote policies that encourage public officials to work with police in the public interest, not for the benefit of lawless special interests.”
FBI statistics show homicides soared by almost 30% in 2020, compared to the previous year, from 16,669 to 21,570.
A report released by the Council on Criminal Justice this week noted the number of homicides in 22 major cities — including Chicago and the District of Columbia — was 5% higher last year than in 2020, with 218 more homicides, and 44% higher than in 2019, with 1,298 more homicides, the Times said.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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