(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) July 25, 2024 — The National Police Association announced a new state has been added to its latest national billboard campaign asking people to support the police by thanking a cop. The latest state is California.
Per the Peace Officers Research Association of California, California is in the midst of a public safety crisis that is putting both residents and businesses across the state at risk. Nearly two-thirds of Californians say violence and street crime in their local community is a problem. And while law abiding citizens worry about the safety of their families and their communities, law enforcement staffing shortages are at a critical level.
California faces a web of compounding obstacles as it grapples with a public safety crisis marked by increased crime and unprecedented officer staffing shortages. In an attempt to mitigate these impacts, the state has recently resorted to deploying the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to bolster officer levels on the ground in especially hard-hit areas — even though the CHP is also understaffed. This shortsighted solution simply removes officers from one understaffed area to provide short-term relief to another. This moment exemplifies the urgency for increased resources to recruit, train, and retain officers.
Even small changes can make a big impact: California residents can make a difference by letting elected officials, activists and cops know they support the police.
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