Cities push for more police officers as crime rates surge

July 21, 2021 carleyshaffer1 US 0

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 16: A Dallas police car and an emergency response vehicle sit in the parking lot at the The Village Bend East apartment complex where a second health care worker who has tested positive for the Ebola virus resides on October 16, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. Nurse Amber Vinson joins Nina Pham as health workers who have contracted the Ebola virus at Texas Heath Presbyterian Hospital while treating patient Thomas Eric Duncan, who has since died. (Photo by Mike Stone/Getty Images)

A Dallas police car and an emergency response vehicle sit in the parking lot at the The Village Bend East apartment complex. (Mike Stone/Getty Images)

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The mayor of Dallas has called for the city’s budget to allow for more police and increased pay for first responders. Meanwhile, cities across the U.S. have petitioned for more police officers after Democrat lawmakers promoted “defund the police” movements, which resulted in low moral amongst law enforcement and a flood of resignations.

As many Democrat lawmakers have flipped their stance on defunding law enforcement, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said on Tuesday that he wants to hire 275 police officers in next year’s budget.

“Every officer counts here and when we’re lacking officers, that’s just another place where crime can explode so we really need those numbers to be what they need to be,” said Terrance Hopkins, President of the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas.

Mayor Johnson calls for more police officers in next budget https://t.co/pFvM8kQUqW

— Office of Mayor Eric Johnson (@DallasMayor) July 20, 2021

Additionally, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the 911 system has been in chaos and crime has increased in the city, citing three people killed over the weekend. Garcia introduced a new crime plan to target habitual criminals and said he believes the budget he is working to prepare will “provide the resources necessary for us to be successful.”

The mayor added he wants salary increases for both police officers and firefighters. This comes after eight residents from Northside Minneapolis won a lawsuit against the city in early July for its lack of police officers during the surge in crime, which has impacted low income and minority neighborhoods.

The ruling determined the mayor and city council must immediately fund a police force of approximately 743 officers. However, Minneapolis Democrat Mayor Jacob Frey has yet to outline his plan to implement the judge’s orders.