Some lawmakers are pushing for public appreciation of law enforcement while others are calling for increased oversight. | Canva
Some lawmakers are pushing for public appreciation of law enforcement while others are calling for increased oversight. | Canva
Rep. Bradley Stephens recognized National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day as tensions surrounding the police, politicians, and the public stir following a year of violence and just two years removed from the Black Lives Matter protests.
“Thank you to our law enforcement officers for your work and dedication to protect our communities in the 20th District and across our state," Stephens wrote.
Chicago Police tweeted, “Happy National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day! To serve and protect!”
The National Police Foundation (NPF) found that several cities that experienced record-high crime in 2021 are also dealing with police staffing shortages, Newsweek reported. The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2021 Retail Security Survey ranked Chicago third on its list of cities that were impacted the most by organized retail theft. CPD reported that it wasn't able to respond promptly to some 911 calls due to a lack of manpower.
According to Fox 17, Mayor Lori Lightfoot promised to cut $80 million in funding from the police budget in the midst of violent anti-police riots and looting in 2020. However, in December she requested that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland send federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to help with Chicago’s illegal gun crisis. She also stated that there are “thousands” of dangerous, wanted individuals roaming the streets and requested federal agents to help apprehend them.
Because of Chicago's crime rates, Bucktown Neighbors Association has hired a private security firm to patrol their neighborhood, News Nation reported. Alderman Brian Hopkins acknowledged that Bucktown residents have been “targeted and preyed upon on a nightly basis.”
The topic of fair and equitable policing has been a political topic, and a highly publicized one, as community leaders, mayors, and governors around the country struggle to find the right balance under the law.
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