A poll finds that a large percentage of D.C. police are thinking about leaving

America is in the middle of a law enforcement crisis.

The Washington Examiner reports that nearly three out of every four officers who are part of Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department are considering leaving. 

It’s true

The information comes by way of a poll that was recently conducted of 600 local Washington D.C. police officers.

Of the 600, 71 percent said that they were considering leaving the force, 25 percent, that they are thinking about retiring early, 35 percent, that they are actively seeking jobs at other law enforcement agencies, and 39 percent said that they were considering leaving law enforcement entirely.

The Examiner reports that a similar sentiment has been found in various parts of the country, including Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York; Hallandale Beach, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia.

The cause is the same in each case: The push by the local government for far-left police reform.

What’s going on in D.C.?

The poll was taken following a bill that was recently passed by the D.C. Council.

The bill, among other things, would prohibit local police departments from buying military-style weaponry from the federal government, it would make it necessary for departments to more quickly release to the public body camera footage following police-related shootings, and it would restrict the use by police officers of lethal force.

Another lawmaker wanted to cut D.C.’s police force from roughly 3,900 to 3,500. But, that proposal was called off after members of the D.C. police union said that they’re going to be leaving anyway.

The D.C. police union’s response

Following the passage of the bill, the D.C. police union issued a statement, leaving little doubt that the reason why nearly three-fourths of D.C. officers are considering leaving is because of this bill.

Their statement reads, in part:

The D.C. Police Union remains steadfastly committed to important discussions on police reform and is always willing to be on the cutting edge of responsible and professional policing, but the idea that our department has systemic racism which manifests itself in brutality and civil rights violations is preposterous.

This legislation will cause an exodus of our best police officers and make hiring and retaining qualified employees next to impossible.

The result of all of this will be a significant increase in crime, which we are already seeing in many parts of the country.

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