Poll: 75% Say ‘Defund the Police’ Caused Violent Crime Wave

Casey Harper (The Center Square).

A new survey has revealed that three-quarters of Americans think defunding police officers is responsible for the increase in violence across the nation.

A Politico/Morning Consult Poll released Wednesday found that 75% of surveyed Americans say that “the defunding of police departments” is “a reason that violent crime is increasing in the United States.” The survey reports that 49% said defunding police was a “major reason” for the rise in violent crime while 26% said it was a “minor reason.” Only 25% said it was “not a reason” for the spike in violent crime.

Experts Echoed The defund movement is causing more violence. Police officers are concerned about the lack of support they will receive from their department if involved in a shooting that results in death. It also means they can avoid more dangerous neighbourhoods.

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The poll also found that two thirds of those surveyed believe increasing funding police would reduce crime, a key data point as lawmakers and local officials grapple with the rising violent crime rates alongside calls to “defund the police.”

The poll asked respondents whether increasing funding for police departments ​​”would decrease the rate of violent crime in the United States.” Only 22% of those surveyed said it would not while the majority said it would. The poll found 36% said it would decrease crime “a lot” while 33% said more police funding would decrease crime “some.”

Biden, President of the United States of America has distanced itself from the calls to cut funding for police. This movement was started in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. Biden called on June last year for more police officers to address rising violence in crime, which reached new heights across the country.

Biden reinforced that promise during his visit to New York City last Wednesday, when he visited Harlem where two police officers had been killed.

“The answer is not to defund the police,” Biden said.

That sentiment, though, has not been echoed by all of Biden’s party. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., rebuffed Biden’s comments.

“My colleagues keep telling us to wait,” Bush said after Biden’s comments. “They keep telling us defunding the police and investing in communities won’t work. Their policies continue to lead to police killing Blacks. Let’s stop being so patronizing. Listen to the movements that are telling you how to save lives.”

Bush Submitted Axios Tuesday she would not back down from the defund police message.

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“I always tell [fellow Democrats], ‘If you all had fixed this before I got here, I wouldn’t have to say these things,’” she said.

Republicans have attacked Democrats for their defund message. They pointed to the crime wave, and advocated for more police officers to deal with it.

“The Biden Administration is trying to blame rising crime on everything except the true causes,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., who pointed to the defunding push, immigration policy, and other issues. “[Democratic] policies that are enabling criminals and hurting police.” 

This article was Syndicated by permission of The Center Square.