A national law-enforcement advocacy group is sounding the alarm over the “defund the police” movement, citing recent data showing a rise in murders in cities that slashed police budgets—paired with growing public support for increased funding.
According to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), murder rates in several major metropolitan areas surged following budget cuts to local police departments. Meanwhile, municipal officials are moving to reverse course, approving funding increases in the current fiscal year to combat violent crime and support officer recruitment.
FOP President Patrick Yoes noted that citizens across the country are rejecting the defund movement, instead advocating for better-equipped police forces. He emphasized that adequate funding is essential to help law enforcement maintain community safety and address staffing shortages.
The group also warned against the rising number of unfunded mandates imposed on departments—such as increased training, mental-health unit formation, and stricter oversight—suggesting these well-meaning reforms often exact financial and operational penalties on the same agencies dealing with limited resources.
Municipalities including Kansas City, Seattle, and New York have recently shifted budgets back toward public safety following spikes in violent crime. Local leaders in these cities acknowledged that reduced patrols and delayed response times contributed to public concern, and pledged more funding to stabilize policing efforts.
With input from Fox News