The United States Lost Over 25,000 Local Police Personnel

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has recently released data that indicates a significant loss of police officers in the United States in recent years. According to the BLS, tens of thousands of police officers have left the job, resulting in a decrease in police employment figures. However, there is some good news as police employment numbers have shown signs of improvement in recent months.

Former Senior Specialist for Crime Prevention and Statistics for the Department of Justice, Leonard Adam Sipes, Jr., sheds light on the issue in his latest article and podcast on YouTube. With over 35 years of experience in the criminal justice field, Sipes provides valuable insights into the current state of police employment in the country.

The data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that there has been a substantial decline in local government police personnel over the past few years. From November 2019 to November 2023, the US lost 25,076 local government police personnel, with a high point of 434,698 dropping to 409,662. Similarly, from the calendar year 2019 to 2023, there was a loss of 18,004 local government police personnel.

State government police personnel also experienced a decrease, with a loss of 2,116 personnel from 2020 to 2022. However, there has been a slight improvement in the numbers, with local government police personnel rebounding to 426,210 and state government police personnel increasing to 105,09 as of June 2024.

While the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows signs of improvement, there are still concerns about the loss of police officers across the country. The US Department of Justice has identified a historic crisis in recruiting and retaining qualified candidates for law enforcement agencies. Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a tightening labor market, community frustrations, and concerns about officer safety and well-being have contributed to the decline in police personnel.

Media narratives surrounding the loss of police officers have been criticized for exaggerating the reasons behind officers leaving the force. The “defund the police” movement and ongoing protests over police use of force have been cited as major factors contributing to the demoralization of police officers and their decision to resign or retire.

Despite the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies, there is hope that the recent uptick in police employment numbers is a positive sign for the future. While there is still work to be done to address the issues facing the police profession, it is essential to recognize the hard work and dedication of the men and women who serve and protect our communities every day.