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Our most basic duty in law enforcement is to enable people to live their lives free of fear. This is a task that has become more difficult over the past few years. 2021 will see him remain at alarmingly high levels of violent crime for the second year in a row, according to FBI crime statistics released in October. According to regular weekly conversations I have with police chiefs and sheriffs, these violent crime trends continue throughout 2022.
The number one concern we hear from local law enforcement leaders is gang and gun violence. Gangs terrorizing communities, youths turning carjacking into more serious violence, and traffickers flooding their neighborhoods with drugs and crime. Even large companies face the same situation, facing tough decisions about where to do business.
The specific causes can be as diverse and varied as the communities we serve, but too often we see repeat or dangerous criminals return to the streets. The only thing that is more frustrating for a hardworking law enforcement officer than having to arrest a violent criminal who should be incarcerated is having to arrest the same person over and over again.
Law enforcement men and women are working tirelessly to confront this threat. In 2022, the FBI and our partners have arrested more than 20,000 of her violent criminals and child predators nationwide. In the process, we seized more than 9,600 of his guns from these criminals, disarmed 3,500 gangs and violent crime syndicates, and completely dismantled a further 370 guns under their leadership. arrested and seized property.
U.S. Homicide Rate Continues Tough Rise in 2021, New FBI Estimate Shows
FBI agent approaching crime scene
(Getty Images)
These and similar efforts are making real change in communities plagued by violence and drugs, but the numbers and our experience make it clear that much more needs to be done. And at the FBI, we are working with state and local partners to leverage resources to combat these stubborn rates of murder, carjacking and non-fatal shootings.
The answer, of course, is not to cut resources from overworked and underresourced departments. As it stands, police departments and sheriff’s offices across the country are struggling to recruit officers to replace those they’ve lost in recent years to a wave of retirements and resignations. Law enforcement is already a tough job, and it gets even tougher when understaffed departments have to make tough decisions about how to prioritize limited resources. What’s more, when cops are asked to tackle increasingly complex tasks, their jobs become more dangerous. In 2022, an average of one brave law enforcement officer is viciously murdered in the line of duty almost every six days of his life, his third highest number in over two decades.
The FBI works side by side with state and local law enforcement partners through more than 300 violent crime-fighting teams of nearly 3,000 members. Through these task forces, we have built strong, resilient ships that can navigate through any storm. are identified and targeted. And we are working to build capacity and deploy additional resources in some of the most needy and hardest-hit cities.
Based on past successes in reducing violent crime, we know what works. Law enforcement needs to share information and resources to dismantle the worst gangs and keep the most violent criminals off the streets. That means keeping young offenders away from violence before they move on to more serious crime. Law enforcement agencies also need to develop better relationships with the communities we serve in order to gain their trust and cooperation.
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We need to develop new ways to meet the long-term challenge of hiring more everyday heroes who will keep us all safe. But a bigger problem is the feeling among rank-and-file police that too many in our society no longer respect their jobs.
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Law enforcement needs extraordinary citizens who are willing to risk their lives for complete strangers every day. And it’s not just a profession. it’s a call. I always urge my employees to do their best to block out the noise and stay focused on the mission. But on top of that, if we’re going to continue to attract public servants who are dedicated to this mission, we should all support the brave men and women who are making great sacrifices to keep others safe. , should be more frank.